“Referee called Mikel a Monkey”-Ramires Confesses

Ramires remains adamant that he heard Mark Clattenburg make a racist comment despite Chelsea admitting their ‘regret’ over the affair in a statement on Wednesday, according to the Times.

In a joint statement from Chelsea, the Premier League and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited – issued in the wake of talks that were revealed by Sportsmail to have taken place on Monday – the European champions conceded that their actions caused Clattenburg and his family huge distress, even though they stopped short of apologising.

But if the Brazilian still insists he heard Clattenburg call midfielder John Obi Mikel a ‘monkey’ then it raises serious questions as to whether the referee can officiate at a Chelsea match in the near future.
It has even been alleged that Ramires would refuse to shake Clattenburg’s hand should they meet again this season.
Ramires gave evidence to the FA that he heard the referee shout ‘Shut up you monkey,’ at Mikel but the governing body cleared the referee last week.
On Tuesday, Chelsea admitted it had been a mistake to rush out a press release on the night of their defeat by Manchester United when the accusation that Clattenburg had called John Mikel Obi a ‘monkey’ was so serious.