Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has alleged that ex-Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel tried to physically assault him following a heated Premier League encounter between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in October 2012.
Speaking on the Undr The Cosh podcast, Clattenburg described the moment Mikel burst into the referee’s dressing room after the match: “There was a bit of commotion outside the dressing room door,” he said. “As I opened the door, John Obi Mikel came bursting through and started swinging punches. I ducked. He tried to pin me against the wall and went: ‘F h*!’”
The match was overshadowed by allegations from Chelsea that Clattenburg had rac during play. The Football Association (FA) later cleared Clattenburg of any wrongdoing due to insufficient evidence. However, Mikel was fined £60,000 and handed a three-match suspension for threatening behaviour towards the official.
Clattenburg also reflected on the emotional toll the incident took on him, stating that the racism accusation was “probably the toughest part of my life” and that he “questioned himself” during the ordeal.
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