Shane [Watson] certainly didn't take up with Mickey [Arthur] that he had a problem ... that allegation is completely false.": Michael Clarke. Allegations that Shane Watson objected to the way Australia were handling the David Warner affair have been vehemently denied by captain Michael Clarke and Cricket Australia officials. A television report said Cricket Australia officials at the Champions Trophy in the UK were attempting to cover up Warner's altercation with England rival Joe Root in a Birmingham nightclub early on Sunday morning - allegedly dismissing it as minor and not worthy of punishment. Nine News claimed Watson had responded to that decision by accusing Australian coach Mickey Arthur of double standards. Former vice-captain Watson was stood down from the third Test in March's tour of India, along with three other players, for not submitting homework. Nine said Watson objected to keeping the issue in-house, and that his confrontation with Arthur led to Warner eventually being stood down from Wednesday's match against New Zealand. Warner has since been suspended and fined. Clarke said Watson did not take up any concerns with Arthur. No he certainly didn't. That allegation is completely false," Clarke said after training at The Oval on Wednesday, where the skipper had his first run back from a back injury. And no, Shane certainly didn't take up with Mickey that he had a problem with how we as a leadership group dealt with it. That allegation is completely false. There is confusion over exactly how and when officials and senior members of the Australian camp found out about the incident. Clint McKay, Mitchell Marsh, Phil Hughes, Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Wade were also with Warner when the incident occurred at the Walkabout bar. Asked whether the players present immediately reported the incident back to members in the camp, Clarke said it was "irrelevant" how he and others found out. I think it's irrelevant how we found out. I don't think it makes any difference," he said. Clarke denied Australian officials and the leadership group had originally underestimated the seriousness of the issue. No, I don't think so. I certainly don't think so. I think everybody in the group knows what's required of them as an Australian cricketer," he said. They know what had happened that night was certainly not acceptable by anybody in the team and I think you heard that loud and clear from Davey yesterday.