Southampton 'lodge official complaint against Mark Clattenburg'

Southampton have reportedly made a formal complaint against referee Mark Clattenburg after accusing him of insulting midfielder Adam Lallana.

The official is alleged to have made the offensive remark to the player during the Saints' 2-1 defeat at Everton, after the visitors had a penalty claim rejected.

Southampton have since lodged an official complaint with governing body the Professional Game Match Officials Limited and demanded an apology from Clattenburg, reports The Telegraph.

The club has also requested that the referee does not oversee any of its fixtures until the matter is resolved.

Clattenburg was involved in controversy last season when he was accused of racially abusing Chelsea's John Obi Mikel, but a subsequent FA investigation found the claims to be unfounded.