Ray Wilkins praises Roberto Di Matteo's conduct in "sad" Mark Clattenburg situation

Former Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins believes that Blues manager Roberto Di Matteo has handled himself "impeccably" during the "sad" race row involving John Obi Mikel and referee Mark Clattenburg.

The 37-year-old match official is the subject of a complaint by the Champions League winners after it was alleged that Clattenburg had used "inappropriate language", believed to be of a racial nature, towards Mikel during Chelsea's 3-2 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.

"I haven't heard anything coming out of Stamford Bridge about the matter, it's very in-house," Wilkins told BBC Radio Five Live. "That's the way they will deal with the situation. The allegations are there and it will get sorted out. But it's a very sad situation.

"Robbie [Di Matteo] has been in a very difficult situation and has handled himself impeccably. The one who has suffered is John Obi Mikel. He didn't play well against United and played with a grimace on his face. That's not John Obi."

Reports have claimed that Clattenburg branded Mikel a "monkey" after booking the midfielder for dissent.