The Premier League’s most high-profile referee Mark Clattenburg is quitting to take up a position in Saudi Arabia, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said on Thursday.
“The PGMOL would like to wish Mark Clattenburg well as he prepares for his move to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation,” it said in a statement.
British media reported that Clattenburg will replace Howard Webb, another former Premier League referee, as head of refereeing at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
Clattenburg was seen in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
The 41-year-old took charge of the Euro 2016 final, the Champions League final and the FA Cup final last season.
Last summer he got two tattoos to commemorate refereeing the Euro 2016 and Champions League finals, and the Guardian reported he had a car with the registration plate: ‘C19TTS’.
In an interview with Associated Press in December, he said he did not understand why “people see [the tattoos] as a negative thing”, adding: “I’m proud of what I’ve done.”
Clattenburg, who had previously said he would consider officiating in China, is expected to leave before the Premier league’s next set of fixtures on February 25.
Clattenburg took charge of his first Football League game as a 25-year-old in 2000. Four years later, he was promoted to the Premier League’s Select Group.
Super Eagles skipper, Mikel Obi, was charged with misconduct by the English FA on November 22, 2012 for an incident involving Clattenburg.
The Nigerian, who was then playing for Chelsea, was given a three-match ban and fined £60,000 for threatening the referee during a 3–2 defeat to Manchester United.
