Mikel Obi accuses Referee Clattenburg of calling Him a Monkey

Police have launched an ­investigation into claims referee Mark Clattenburg called Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel a “monkey”.

Clattenburg has told the FA he denies ­absolutely the astounding allegation.

And it is understood the miked-up fourth ­official and two assistant referees have ­confirmed they did not hear any racial insult.

Blues players are believed to have claimed Clattenburg said either “shut up you monkey” or “go away you monkey” to the Nigerian ­midfielder late on in Chelsea’s 3-2 defeat by Manchester United on Sunday.

After the initial allegations that arose on Sunday night we are beginning to get a clearer picture of what might or might have transpired during the stormy Chelsea-Man United encounter, says Daily Star.

This source reports that County Durham official Mark Clattenburg called John Obi Mikel a ‘Monkey’ whilst the Daily Mail suggest that the referee’s strong North-East accent may have led to a misunderstanding.

Clattenburg has since been removed from the officiating list for the coming weekend as the FA and the Metropolitan Police look to investigate the incidents in question.