West Ham manager Sam Allardyce hopes that Mark Clattenburg is not put off refereeing after being cleared of racially abusing Blues midfielder John Obi Mikel by the police and the FA.

The Durham official will be back in action as fourth official for the Hammers’ trip to Tottenham.

“I’m glad it’s all over and done with and I’m glad that there is nothing untoward that’s been said by Mark Allardyce said, before the announcement was made. “I’m glad the situation is now cleared up,”

“I’m sure that he’s looking forward to getting back to the job he loves doing.

“It’s a very unfortunate situation for him personally.

“More because of the intrusion he gets with the media around your house.

“I hope that doesn’t put him off refereeing.”

The West Ham boss believes, from the outside looking in, that Chelsea should apologise to the official.

“It’s not my position to say they do or they don’t,” he added.

“It’s something they have to consider as a football club whether they should or not.

“From the outside, it looks like they should. I don’t know the full extent of it.

“It’s difficult for me to comment.”