Chelsea referee accused of using "inappropriate language"

An official complaint has been made against referee Mark Clattenburg for using inappropriate language against two players in an EPL match.

Sang Tan/AP

LONDON (AP) -- Chelsea accused referee Mark Clattenburg of using "inappropriate language" at two players during a Premier League match against Manchester United, and lodged an official complaint with the Football Association.

Clattenburg sent off two Chelsea players in Sunday's 3-2 loss to United at Stamford Bridge and allowed a contentious late winning goal to striker Javier Hernandez, who appeared to be offside when he scored.

"We have lodged a complaint to the Premier League match delegate with regards to inappropriate language used by the referee and directed at two of our players in two separate incidents in today's match," Chelsea spokesman Steve Atkins said. "The match delegate will pass the complaint to the Football Association."

The board in charge of topflight referees in England said in a statement that it is "aware of the allegations and they are being treated with the utmost seriousness."

Clattenburg is one of the FIFA candidates to referee at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.