Ref Clattenburg Flees Egypt Over Threat

Mark Clattenburg has left his job as the head of Egypt’s refereeing committee over safety concerns, after reportedly receiving threats from a set of supporters and personal attacks by the same club’s president.

The former Premier League referee took up the role last August, where he was tasked with boosting the performance of officials in Egypt.

But Clattenburg has been heavily criticised by Mortada Mansour, the president of Zamalek Sporting Club, the 14-time record winners of the Egyptian Premier League.

Mansour criticised Clattenburg’s role within Egyptian football, according to The Sun.

The Zamalek President also made allegations about the personal life of Clattenburg, who is understood to be estranged from his wife Claire.

Mansour had incorrectly claimed he had left his wife to start a gay relationship.

Although same-sex sexual activity is not explicitly criminalised in Egypt, LGBT people have been prosecuted on the charge of ‘debauchery’ in the past and there is little public acceptance of homosexuality.

The 47-year-old has also reportedly faced threats from Zamalek supporters, prompting his departure.

Clattenburg also had concerns his refereeing appointments were being changed by the league, while he struggled to persuade foreign officials to travel to the nation to oversee big matches.

The former referee had reportedly not been paid two months of his £32,000-a-month salary.

The Egyptian Football Association confirmed Clattenburg has resigned from his post, but the organisation says his exit still needs to be ratified.

‘England’s Mark Clattenburg, head of the Referees Committee of the Egyptian Football Association, resigned from his post on Tuesday evening,’ a statement read.

‘The Board of Directors of the Egyptian Football Association will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday, to decide on Clattenburg’s resignation.

Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram reported that the Egyptian FA were ‘surprised’ by Clattenburg’s resignation.