Chelsea also said they were sorry for the intense media scrutiny Clattenburg was subjected to following the game against Manchester United in which they complained about "inappropriate language" the referee had allegedly used towards their Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel.
Clattenburg was cleared by the Football Association on Thursday.
[/b]Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck held a meeting with Professional Game Match Officials Limited, which manages top English referees, and the Premier League to discuss the matter on Monday.
[b]"The club regrets not having given more consideration before issuing a statement on the evening of Sunday 28th October," Chelsea said in a statement.
"The club also regrets the subsequent impact the intense media scrutiny had on Mark Clattenburg and his family.
"The referees accept that, given Chelsea FC had received a good faith claim from one of their employees, the club had an obligation under FA rules to report the allegation."
Chelsea said they would welcome Clattenburg back to Stamford Bridge and the referees' governing body said it would have no hesitation in appointing him to officiate Chelsea games.



The west London side made a formal complaint about the 37-year-old after Ramires and Jon Obi Mikel told club officials of their belief that the referee had abused the Nigerian 25-year-old on October 28.

[size=14pt]OBI MIKEL CHARGED[/size]
the FA do not believe the official has a case to answer - and Obi Mikel has been charged with using threatening and/or abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour in or near the Match Officials' room.

The FA's official statement reads: "The FA has concluded its investigation into alleged misconduct by Mark Clattenburg during the match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC on Sunday 28 October 2012. No disciplinary action will follow against Mr Clattenburg."

[size=16pt]The FA revealed the chronology of their investigation as follows:[/size]

"Following the conclusion of the match, Chelsea FC reported to the match delegate that two of their players had been

separately subject to abuse by the match referee, Mark Clattenburg.


"On Monday 29 October 2012, The FA contacted Chelsea FC to establish whether the club and individual players wished to make a formal complaint in relation to the allegations reported to the match delegate.

"On Wednesday 31 October Chelsea FC contacted The FA and confirmed that the club had conducted an internal enquiry and that they did wish to proceed with a formal complaint in relation to one of the allegations of abuse. The club did not wish to proceed in relation to the other allegation. The club provided witness statements from two players, Ramires Santos do Nascimento ("Ramires" and John Obi Mikel.

"The details of the allegation were that following one or the other of the red cards issued during the second half of the game, Ramires heard Mark Clattenburg say to John Obi Mikel, "shut up you monkey". John Obi Mikel did not hear the alleged comment.

"On 1 November 2012, The FA requested that Chelsea disclose full details of their internal investigation.

"On 5 November 2012, Chelsea FC provided The FA with witness statements from other Chelsea FC players and officials.

"On 5 November 2012, The FA interviewed Ramires and John Obi Mikel, using the TV match footage obtained by The FA.

"Between 7 and 8 November 2012, The FA interviewed all four match officials.

"On 9 and 14 November 2012, further to FA requests, Chelsea FC provided unbroadcast video footage of the game from static cameras.

"On 15 November 2012, The FA re-interviewed Ramires to show him the previously unseen video footage provided by the club. At this stage, for the first time, the exact point at which the comment was alleged to have been made was established.

"In light of this new information, between 15 and 19 November 2012, The FA interviewed the players who were in the vicinity of the alleged incident, and re-interviewed John Obi Mikel and the match officials.

"Chelsea FC was offered the opportunity to provide any further information or evidence that they believed could be relevant to the allegation.

"The FA then sought advice on the evidence gathered from independent Queen’s Counsel.

"The evidence for the allegation came from one witness, Ramires. Ramires, whose first language is not English, explained that his instinctive reaction was to seek confirmation from John Obi Mikel as to what the referee had said.

"John Obi Mikel, who was being spoken to by the referee, was much closer to the referee than Ramires and did not hear what it is suggested was said to him.

"Three other witnesses, i.e. the other Match Officials, to whom everything said by referee was relayed via their communication equipment, are adamant the alleged words were not uttered.

"There is nothing in the video footage to support the allegation.

"For completeness, but of lesser weight, two other players, whose first language is English and were in the vicinity, did not hear anything untoward.

"Having considered all of the available evidence it was the opinion of David Waters QC, independent counsel, that the evidence of Ramires was not supported by any other evidence. Moreover it was contradicted by other witnesses and does not cross the evidential threshold required to bring a charge against Mark Clattenburg.

"Having considered Counsel’s opinion, and in view of all the circumstances of the case, the FA does not believe that there is a case for Mr Clattenburg to answer.

"Equally The FA is satisfied that the allegation against Mark Clattenburg by Ramires was made in good faith. It is entirely possible for a witness to be genuinely mistaken and convincing in his belief.

"The FA receives and investigates numerous allegations of misconduct over the course of a season. All allegations are properly investigated. It is not uncommon for investigations to lead to no disciplinary charge being brought.

"The FA encourages all players who believe they have been either subject, or witness to, discriminatory abuse to report the matter immediately to the match officials on the day.

"Furthermore, all participants are advised to report any such alleged misconduct to the FA. In this case, the player and club were correct in reporting the matter to the FA and it was appropriate and proper for such an allegation to be thoroughly investigated."
"There was recognition by all parties that the impartiality and integrity of refereeing in this country remains paramount," Chelsea said.
"All parties now believe it is time to draw a line under this incident, learn from it and move on for the good of all Premier League clubs, players and match officials."

It will be recalled that clattenburg is the 4th refferees griviously accused after chelsea lost. 2 other reffs have resigned after a threat to their lives, and it is alarming among reffs that they are under presure to officiate chelsea games which often produce more fouls than their opponents,the reffs are faced with balancing of foul waved for each teams.while chelseafc easily forget serious fouls waved away to their credit, they 'cry' conspiracy at another waved for the other team,thereby making the reffs work under pressure.

links below;

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/premier-league-chelsea-admit-clattenburg-regrets-without-saying-160913533.html

BREAKING%20NEWS%20%20FA%20takes%20no%20further%20action%20against%20Clattenburg%20-%20Goal.com.htm

is it right to proceed a case without enough evidence as shown (in blue)above?

read the evidence chronology above b4 comment pls.