Mark Clattenburg decision imminent

Decision time: Mark Clattenburg is due to discover his fate this week (PA)

The Football Association’s governance department has carried out all its interviews into Chelsea’s complaint about referee Mark Clattenburg allegedly making a racist remark to John Obi Mikel and a decision is expected this week on whether he will face a disciplinary charge.

Clattenburg has denied making any such remark in the League game against Manchester United two weeks ago.

The FA, aware of criticism that the John Terry case dragged on for 12 months, have been keen to deal with this one as quickly as possible. For that reason their investigation is taking place at the same time as that of the Metropolitan Police, who received a complaint from the Society of Black Lawyers. Clattenburg was not given a match yesterday for the second week running as he continued preparing his defence.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are upset that the Premier League have turned down a request to postpone their away game against Sunderland on 8 December, before they fly to Japan for the Club World Cup. “I think it is unfair,” their manager Roberto Di Matteo said. “You would think the Premier League would give you the best chance to be successful, which would reflect very well on English football. We play that game and arrive after a nine-hour flight having just three days to prepare for our first game. I can’t get my head around it.”