Under-fire referee Mark Clattenburg will be backed by his assistants during the investigations into allegations made by Chelsea against him.
The Blues alleged Clattenburg used "inappropriate language", believed to be of a racial nature, towards their player John Obi Mikel during their controversial 3-2 loss to Manchester United last Sunday, where Clattenburg sent off two Blues players.
Clattenburg has flatly denied the charges and it is understood his assistants - Michael McDonough and Simon Long -- along with the fourth referee - Simon Long -- who were miked up and could hear everything, will say they heard nothing untoward happen in the entire game.
Chelsea have prepared a dossier, with statements from various players, after their lawyers held an internal investigation, from which they decided not to press ahead with the charges against Clattenburg of using "inappropriate language" towards Juan Mata as well.
It is believed the refereeing community has been shocked by the allegations, and deeply upset, with several current and former referees set to step up to give character references on behalf of Clattenburg.
Meanwhile, one of the most respected managers in the game today - Arsene Wenger - believes the matter could have been dealt with in a different manner. "My opinion is just, I prefer when I didn't behave well, that I have an explanation with the referee at the end of the game, or on another day, than going public with little proof you know," the Arsenal boss told reporters. "I'm not a great believer in making these stories public."
"I am a deep supporter of doing that internally. If (football) becomes a sport to make the lawyers rich, I am not a fan of it.
"One of the great things in sports as well is tolerance, forgiveness and explanation internally and I think it should stay like that.
"It can happen that a referee doesn't behave well, I do not say they are angels, but it is always better to sort it out in the room."
It is understood, Mikel, who himself didn't hear the inappropriate language being used, stormed into the referees locker room at Stamford Bridge, after hearing about it from a teammate, demanding an apology from Clattenburg. The referee, denied using the words and therefore refused to apologize for something he did not do, with Mikel, according to widespread reports, having to be physically restrained by some of the Chelsea officials.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was disappointed with the game being involved in another police investigation, after the Metropolitan Police also decided to make their own inquiry.
"It's very difficult to comment because you don't know the extent of what is supposed to have been said, that is the critical thing for me," he said.
"For me to comment -- I just think a situation like that is very difficult for everybody to sort out, and then the police are involved as well and it really worries me about where we are going in the game.
"I think if every incident is going to end up in the police's hands then it is going to be sad for the game of football in general.
"Over the last however many years as a manager I've never heard one referee give a bad comment to a player so I found it a very strange thing that has been reported but only the authorities can decide if it has or hasn't happened."
Meanwhile, the police are investigating an alleged racial gesture by a Chelsea fan towards a United player, believed to be Danny Welbeck, during their League Cup clash Wednesday. A picture published by the English press shows the fan allegedly making monkey gestures.
"Today, Thursday, November 1, police have received a complaint regarding alleged racist behaviour at Stamford Bridge last night, Wednesday, October 31," a statement from the Metropolitan Police said.
"An investigation has been launched. There have been no arrests and enquiries continue."
Chelsea have promised full support for the investigations, while launching an internal inquiry themselves.
