Mark Clattenburg's refereeing during Chelsea's Premier League loss to Manchester United and the subsequent fall-out has dominated sport again this week as racism in football becomes a growing concern in the English game.

The issue has depressingly blighted an exciting season so far. The League Cup again reaffirmed how its entertainment factor trumps the more cherished FA Cup with a couple of crackers (which, much to their delight, were both televised by Sky) and, as was mentioned, United won at Chelsea and the Merseyside derby was uncharacteristically open.

Elsewhere Andy Murray crashed out of the Paris Masters, Maria Sharapova took a bottle of bubbly on court, Tony McCoy was left bloodied after a nasty fall at the races and Steven Gerrard was left red-faced...

Loading Slideshow...

  • Liverpool's Luis Suárez celebrates the opening goal of the Merseyside derby with a dive aimed at Everton boss David Moyes

  • Steven Gerrard celebrates what he thinks is Luis Suárez's stoppage-time winner... only the goal was incorrectly disallowed

  • Maria Sharapova pretends to neck some bubbly during a tennis exhibition match

  • Mark Clattenburg is at the centre of controversy after Chelsea reported him for using 'inappropriate language' towards John Obi Mikel

  • Steven Finn, a doubt for England's first Test in India, admires his delivery in a warm-up match

  • Olivier Giroud thanks the Arsenal fans for throwing his shirt back. Giroud and Francis Coquelin did not know their League Cup tie at Reading would go into extra-time

  • Giroud laps up the celebrations after Theo Walcott's winner

  • Novak Djokovic comes over to the dark side

  • Manchester United fans mock Chelsea's John Terry banner to express 'support' for Mark Clattenburg

  • A Manchester United fan lights up a flare at the League Cup match away to Chelsea

  • A Chelsea fan (second from bottom left) is snapped appearing to make a monkey gesture towards Danny Welbeck

  • Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany steers his car during the second free practice at the Yas Marina racetrack, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. The Emirates Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

  • Dubbed 'City reject' by United fans, Daniel Sturridge has the last laugh as Chelsea go through to the last eight of the League Cup

  • Chico Flores celebrates giving Swansea the lead at Anfield

  • Andy Murray feels the pain as he crashes out of the Paris Masters

  • Ryder Cup hero Martin Kaymer on the course in Shenzhen, China

  • Swindon Town manager Paolo di Canio mocks Aston Villa fans

  • Australia's rugby team show their support for Movember

  • Henning Berg returns to Blackburn

  • Tony McCoy arrives back at the medical room after his fall from Mr Watson

  • And staying in Lancashire, Sean Dyche arrives at Burnley's Turf Moor

  • Halo Ronaldo?

  • Players of Panama are seen prior to the FIFA Futsal World Cup Group B match between Panama and Morocco at Indoor Stadium Huamark on November 2, 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

  • Andy Goode of Worcester celebrates after scoring a try during the Aviva Premiership match between Worcester Warriors and Sale Sharks at Sixways Stadium on October 26, 2012 in Worcester, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

  • Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain steers his car during the second free practice at the Yas Marina racetrack, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. The Emirates Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

  • Ricky Burns poses for photos after the press conference at the Grosvenor Hotel, London. Picture date: Thursday November 1, 2012. Photo credit should Nick Potts/PA Wire

  • Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during his match against Sam Querrey of the U.S at the Paris Tennis Masters tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

  • River Plate's fans cheer during an Argentine soccer league match against Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. The match ended 2-2. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

  • Brandon Crawford #35 of the San Francisco Giants tags out Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers for a double play to end the first inning during Game Three of the Major League Baseball World Series at Comerica Park on October 27, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

  • Ben Crane of USA jumps on the 1st hole during day three of the CIMB Classic at The MINES Resort & Golf Club on October 27, 2012 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)

  • Frankie Gavin (R) in action with Junior Witter during their British Welterweight fight at York Hall on November 1, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)