Ex-Premier League ref Clattenburg 'forced to flee Egypt' after series of attacks

25 January 2023 , 09:05

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Mark Clattenburg has reportedly fled Egypt (Image: Getty Images)

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has been forced to leave Egypt following 'harsh criticism and personal attacks' from a club president, it's been claimed.

Clattenburg, 47, was appointed the head of Egypt's refereeing committee last June, shortly after the association was created. The Englishman was brought in after local referees were criticised by clubs in the Egyptian Premier League during the 2021/22 campaign.

Yet it appears Clattenburg's time in Egypt is up. Zamalek president Mortada Mansour has allegedly made remarks about Clattenburg's personal life. It is claimed those comments have led to threats from Zamalek fans, with the retired referee fearing for his safety.

As reported by Egyptian outlet Ahram Online, Clattenburg has stepped down from his position after disagreements between him and officials in the Egyptian Football Association (EFA). It is thought Clattenburg's resignation still needs to be ratified by the EFA.

According to The Sun, Clattenburg has actually left Egypt due to fears for his safety. He was reportedly having his referee appointments changed by the league and there were concerns that some officials were making questionable decisions.

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Furthermore, it is said Clattenburg struggled to persuade overseas referees to officiate in Egypt for big games. There are also claims that the former Premier League referee has not been paid for the last two months. His is reportedly earning £32,000-a-month.

Mark Clattenburg was appointed by the Egyptian Football Association last June (Getty Images)

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Although Clattenburg was appointed in June, he did not start his role until August - two months before the 2022/23 Egyptian Premier League campaign started. Clattenburg outlined his ambition for Egyptian referees at a press conference in June.

As quoted by Ahram Online, Clattenburg told reporters: "My target is to have an Egyptian referee in the World Cup. It is difficult to evaluate the performance of the Egyptian referees as I am not here for a long time."

Clattenburg added: "I will follow the coming league games and I will evaluate the referees’ performance and statistics. We have a training programme for the referees with coaches from FIFA to prepare them for the coming period."

Mirror Football have contacted both Clattenburg's representatives and Zamalek for comment.

Clattenburg is one of England's most decorated referees. He became a Premier League referee in 2004 after working in the EFL. The Durham-born official then became a FIFA-listed referee in 2006, which allowed him to take charge of international fixtures.

Clattenburg remained a Premier League and FIFA-listed official until he stepped down from his position in 2017. He took charge of several big games - including the 2012 Men's Olympics final, the 2012 Carabao Cup final, the 2014 European Super Cup, the 2016 FA Cup final, the 2016 Champions League final and the Euro 2016 final.

Clattenburg has worked in various countries since leaving the Premier League. He was the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's head of refereeing and a professional referee in China.

Tom Blow