Football
ESPN staff 7y

Mark Clattenburg to ref more Prem games before Saudi move - sources

Mark Clattenburg is to set to continuing refereeing in the Premier League for the time being despite taking up a position in Saudi Arabia, sources have told ESPN FC.

Clattenburg's career in Europe appeared to be over after it was announced he was to leave his role on the panel of elite referees.

While sources have insisted there is no U-turn and Clattenburg will still take up a job with the Saudi Arabian Football Association, it is likely that he will referee a few more Premier League matches before he goes.

There are 13 rounds of games remaining in the season, which finishes on May 21.

Clattenburg, 41, is regarded as one of the world's top officials and last year took charge of the finals in the European Championship, Champions League and FA Cup.

He was named referee of the year at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai in December, and at the time said in an interview that he would consider a move to officiate in the Chinese Super League if an opportunity arose.

The County Durham official, who became an assistant referee in the Northern League at 18, has reportedly grown unhappy with the level of public support officials are given and he had been linked with various lucrative moves abroad.

Clattenburg's final top-flight game was thought to have been Arsenal's 2-0 win over Hull on Feb. 11 -- another game with a refereeing controversy when a handball was missed on Alexis Sanchez's opening goal.

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