Mark Clattenburg set to return to work on Sunday as fourth official at match between Tottenham and West Ham
The Durham-based official will resume refereeing duties next Wednesday when he takes charge of the Premier League game between Southampton and Norwich.
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Your support makes all the difference.Mark Clattenburg will return to work on Sunday as the fourth official at the London derby between Tottenham and West Ham at White Hart Lane.
The Durham-based official will resume refereeing duties next Wednesday when he takes charge of the Premier League game between Southampton and Norwich.
Chelsea are under increasing pressure to issue him with an apology after Clattenburg was cleared of racially abusing John Obi Mikel.
His bosses, the Professional Game Match Officials, will compensate the 37-year-old for loss of earnings after he was left off the referees’ list for three consecutive weeks following the allegation that was made on October 28.
In a statement released yesterday, Clattenburg said: “To know you were innocent of something but that there was the opportunity for it to wreck your career was truly frightening.
“Racism has no place in football and this experience should not discourage those to speak out if they genuinely believe they are a victim of abuse.
“However, there are processes that should be adhered to in order that any investigation can be carried out in a manner that is fair for all parties involved.
“I know first hand the ramifications of allegations of this nature being placed into the public domain ahead of a formal process and investigation. I hope no referee has to go through this in the future.
“I am looking forward to putting this behind me and concentrating on refereeing in the Premier League and other competitions.”
The national secretary of the referees union, Alan Leighton, feels Clattenburg should be compensated for the damage to his reputation and wants Chelsea, who have accepted the decision, to make a donation to an anti-racism group.
Leighton said: “This was a charge brought on the flimsiest of evidence that should never have got to this stage.
“Mark Clattenburg deserves a full and unreserved apology from Chelsea.”
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