Mark Clattenburg's union Prospect called upon Chelsea to apologise to the referee, below, and pay him compensation after the Football Association decided that he had no case to answer over allegations of racist abuse.

Clattenburg's representative, Alan Leighton, said the charge was based on the "flimsiest of evidence" and said the club should never have gone public on the allegations made by the midfielder Ramires that the referee had said "shut up you monkey" to John Obi Mikel. But the FA cleared Chelsea of any malicious wrongdoing in bringing the complaint after the game at Stamford Bridge against Manchester United on 28 October despite saying the testimony of chief witness Ramires had not crossed "the evidential threshold required to bring a charge".

In a judgement that will have come as some relief to the club, the FA said the allegation was "made in good faith".

The FA said: "It is entirely possible for a witness to be genuinely mistaken and convincing in his belief." MORE

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Stabbed Spurs fan is 'out of danger'

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Fifa denies Drogba his Chelsea move

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Man City reluctant to make signings

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North ruled out of New Zealand game

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Lancaster makes six team changes

England coach Stuart Lancaster hopes making six changes for tomorrow's Test with South Africa will pay off. He said: "You either win in the key areas when you're playing South Africa or you're in for a hard afternoon." MORE

Column: Ian Bell

I have been trying a bit too hard to show I can score big in India. I still have a lot of confidence about playing in the subcontinent but not India and I know that is missing from my batting CV. MORE