Top Premier League referee quits for Saudi Arabia post

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGGMOL) have announced top referee Mark Clattenburg is to leave his job in England to take up an advisory position on the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.

Clattenburg has established himself as one of the best referees in England since being promoted to the Premier League’s select group in 2004 and has officiated the 2012 Olympic men’s final, 2016 FA Cup Final, the 2016 Uefa Champions League final, as well as the final of Euro 2016.

The 41-year-old had been linked with a lucrative move to China but will now take up a position with the Saudi Arabian FA as an advisory member to their league of officials.

“The PGMOL would like to wish Mark Clattenburg well as he prepares for his move to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation,” the statement read on the Premier League's official website.

“Since joining the PGMO Select Group in 2004, Mark developed into one of our top officials, refereeing at the highest level and setting standards for others to follow.

“Mark is a talented referee, he has been a great asset to the English game and hopefully an inspiration to those who want to get into refereeing at the grass roots of the game.”

Clattenburg has taken charge of 19 games in the Premier League this season in which 47.4% of those have ended as a draw. Included in those games were three Liverpool games, which Jurgen Klopp’s side ended up drawing all three.

For more stats on Mark Clattenburg, click here to visit his WhoScored referee page