Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has been suspended from duty pending an FA inquiry into his alleged debts. Clattenburg is one of the divisions elite referees and was due to officiate the Community shield this sunday but the FA and Premier Game Match officials LTD have acted swiftly to replace him in light of the matter:

“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. 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 Clattenburg is one of England’s leading referees and we hope to resolve this matter swiftly.”

Clattenburgs firm MC Electrical Retail NE Ltd was decalred bankrupt in June, after his friend John Hepworth took legal action in a bid to recover a debt reported to be almost £60,000. In May Mr Hepworth served Clattenburg’s firm with legal papers demanding £59,589. When they failed to pay, he took the case to the county court and MC Electrical Retail NE Ltd was wound up. It is believed these debts could also make Clattenburg a target for match fixing and betting rings and he will now not officiate untill the matter is resolved leaving Peter Walton to take over the whistle for the Community shield at Wembley this weekend.

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