Mike Ready To face Racist Ref!

John Mikel Obi has offered the largest Chealsea olive branch yet to mark Clattenburg, by confirming he would be happy to play in a game where he was the referee.

Mikel is in the middle of a three-game domestic ban, his punishment for confronting clattenburg in the Stamford bridge dressing room after the Blues controversial defeat by Manchester United on October 28.

The Nigerian midfielder reacted to team-mate Ramires claim he had heard Clattenburg shout "shut up you monkey" at him on the picth.

While Clattenburg was told there was no case to answer following a three-week FA investigation, mikel was suspended and fined 60,000 euros after admitting threatening behaviour.

Chelsea issued an agreed joint statementt with the FA in which they expressed "regret" without fully apologising to Clattenburg.

Last week, mikel told an FA regulatory commission he was seething at what he belived the referre had said although he accepted his behaviour was inapproprite.

His fine reflected his conviction that the allegation which Ramires is known to maintain despite the fidings of the FA's investigations was true at the time.

After playing all 90 minutes of Chelsea Club World Cup smi-final win over Monterrey on Thursay, Mikel broke his public silence on the incident.

He was adamant he would have no problems in playing a game refereed by the Newcastle-based whistler in the future.

"Would i be happy to play with him as referee? i think sure, why not? said mikel. 'Eveything is put yo bed, we move on.