Chelsea's Mikel Suspended After Clattenburg Row

John Obi Mikel has been suspended for three games after he confronted referee Mark Clattenburg at the end of Chelsea's stormy match against Manchester United.

The 25-year-old Nigerian was also fined £60,000 after admitting a charge of using threatening or abusive language in the match official's changing room after the game on October 28.

The decision by the Independent Regulatory Commission said the ban would have been "significantly longer" but for the fact Mikel believed he had been racially abused by Mr Clattenburg.

Mikel will be suspended immediately and he will be ruled out of domestic duty until Boxing Day.

A statement from Football Association said: "Chelsea's John Obi Mikel has been given a three-match suspension to begin with immediate effect and fined £60,000 following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing.

"Mikel had requested a personal hearing after admitting an FA charge of using threatening and/or abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour.

"The Regulatory Commission's independent chairman Christopher Quinlan QC emphasised that the Independent Regulatory Commission accepted, as did The FA, that at the time he threatened the referee the player genuinely believed that the referee had racially abused him.

"But for that factor the suspension would have been significantly longer."

The midfielder, who signed a new five-year contract at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, will miss Chelsea's match at Sunderland this weekend.

The FA announced Mikel's charge last month in a statement that also confirmed Mr Clattenburg had "no case to answer" following a complaint by Chelsea that he used a racist remark to their players.