A former Premier League referee, Mark Clattenburg, has accused former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi of attempting to punch him after a Premier League game against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in 2012.
The match was marred by controversy after Chelsea accused Clattenburg of racially abusing Mikel by allegedly calling him a “monkey.”
The FA later cleared the referee of the allegation due to lack of evidence.
Mikel, however, was fined £60,000 and given a three-match ban for threatening behaviour towards the official after the match.
Speaking on the Under the Cosh podcast, Clattenburg recalled that Mikel stormed into the referee’s dressing room after the final whistle and tried to attack him.
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“There was a bit of commotion outside the dressing room door [after the Chelsea vs Man United game]. I opened the door thinking, ‘what the f*****g h**l is going on here?’
“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*****g h**l!”
“I didn’t know what had gone on, I thought somebody had maybe accused me at that point!
“Everyone just went white, like, “f*****g h**l, what has happened there?”
