Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has been cleared of insulting Southampton attacker Adam Lallana during the Saints' recent 2 - 1 defeat to Everton.

Southampton had written to the Professional Game Match Officials, claiming that Clattenburg had used "insulting and abusing" language towards Lallana.

But the referees' chief has stated that the referee has no case to answer over the alleged incident.

According to the Telegraph, Clattenburg allegedly told Lallana that: "You’re very different now since you played for England. You never used to be like this."

Clattenburg was embroiled in controversy last season when Chelsea accused him of using "inappropriate language" towards their Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel.

However, the referee was cleared of any wrongdoing and returned to officiating after a month-long hiatus.

At the time he had said: "To know you were innocent of something but that there was the opportunity for it to wreck your career was truly frightening. I hope no referee has to go through this in the future."

Southampton say they do not accept the verdict, and they do not want Clattenburg to take charge of any of their matches until the situation is properly resolved.