FA Expects To Wrap Up Investigation Of Alleged Racist Comment By Referee On Friday

The FA expects to complete its investigation into Chelsea's claim that Mark Clattenburg made a racist comment to Mikel John Obi during last month's defeat by ManU by close of business on Friday, according to Dominic Fifield of the London GUARDIAN. FA Head of Governance Jenni Kennedy and her team have received witness statements from those involved at Stamford Bridge, with Obi interviewed at Stamford Bridge on Monday. Other Chelsea players "have similarly given their testimonies to the FA" while Clattenburg "is expected to conclude his interview on Friday." The governing body will scrutinize the evidence before announcing early next week if he is to face a charge. Clattenburg, who denies any wrongdoing, is understood to "have been baffled by the allegation," and has liaised heavily with the officials' union, Prospect, over the course of the week in preparation for his interview. He will also be interviewed by the Metropolitan police, which has acted upon a complaint lodged by the Society of Black Lawyers.The other members of the refereeing team -- the assistants Michael McDonough and Simon Long, and the fourth official Mike Jones -- have also been interviewed "to ascertain if they heard Clattenburg use inappropriate language over the referee's open-microphone system" (GUARDIAN, 11/8).