FA suspend top North referee over debt allegation

Aug 8 2008 by Paul James, The Journal

NORTH Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg was yesterday suspended from officiating at matches over claims about his business affairs.

Consett-born Mr Clattenburg, 33, was due to take charge of the Community Shield match on Sunday, but he has been suspended from duties pending an investigation into reports of his alleged debt – over which he is taking legal advice.

A company linked to electrician Mr Clattenburg, the youngest referee in the Premier League when he was 29, has been wound up by a court over a reportedly unpaid debt to a former friend.

Companies House records show that Mr Clattenburg was appointed as a director of MC Electrical Retail NE Ltd on June 23 this year.

Four days later, the firm was wound up under the Insolvency Act at Newcastle County Court following an application from Newcastle electrician John Hepworth.

In May, Mr Hepworth served the firm with legal papers demanding £59,589 which he said he was owed by the company.

When it failed to pay, he took the case to the county court and MC Electrical Retail NE Ltd was wound up.

The Football Association and the referee’s body Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) Ltd acted yesterday after the county court judgment became public knowledge.

Last night, when contacted by The Journal, Mr Clattenburg said his lawyers were taking action over the reports against several newspapers, before hanging up. Mr Hepworth told The Journal that he and Mr Clattenburg had been friends for 17 years until March this year.

He said they served their apprenticeships together, passed work to each other and used to socialise and watch football matches with each other.

Former Cramlington High School pupil Mr Clattenburg, 33, who now lives in Gosforth, Newcastle, was due to take charge of the season curtain-raiser between Manchester United and Portsmouth, but has been replaced by Peter Walton.

With the new Barclays Premier League season due to start in eight days’ time, Mr Clattenburg will not officiate in any other games until the issue has been resolved.

A joint statement from the Football Association and PGMO read: “PGMO is aware of media reports concerning alleged debts incurred by companies connected to referee Mark Clattenburg.

“It has been decided he will not officiate any matches pending enquiries into the background to these reports.

“The FA has also decided to appoint Peter Walton as referee for Sunday’s FA Community Shield between Manchester United and Portsmouth in place of Mark Clattenburg.” A PGMO spokesman added: “It is in the best interests of Mark Clattenburg and the game that these reports are fully investigated and, during that time, he will not referee any matches. Mark is one of England’s leading referees and we hope to resolve this matter swiftly.”

It is in the best interests of Mark Clattenburg and the game that these reports are fully investigated