Mark Clattenburg has taken up a significant role at a Premier League club, marking his return to the English top flight.
Clattenburg, who served as a Premier League referee for 13 years before venturing abroad in 2017, has held various positions in different countries since leaving England.
His notable roles include serving as the Head of Refereeing for Saudi Arabia and officiating as a professional referee in China. Additionally, he assumed the role of president of the Egyptian Referees Committee in August 2022.
Now, Clattenburg has rejoined the Premier League ranks, having been appointed by Nottingham Forest as their new referees’ analyst.
The 48-year-old was present at the City Ground for Forest’s recent league fixture against West Ham United, where he was seen alongside the club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, before kickoff. Tony Scholes, the Premier League’s chief football officer, was also in attendance.
Forest’s decision to bring Clattenburg on board stems from their dissatisfaction with several decisions made by officials and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system throughout the season.
The club has lodged three formal complaints to the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PFMOL) regarding officiating decisions.
According to The Telegraph, Clattenburg’s appointment is seen as a move to enhance understanding and relationships within the club. Forest voiced their concerns over specific incidents, such as Stuart Attwell’s performance in their defeat to Manchester United and Willy Boly’s red card against Bournemouth.
Additionally, the club raised issues regarding Ivan Toney’s free-kick routine during another match. Forest, currently positioned 15th in the league table, are five points clear of the relegation zone.
In their recent victory against West Ham, Forest secured a 2-0 win with goals from Taiwo Awoniyi and Callum Hudson-Odoi. They are set to face Aston Villa in their upcoming league fixture next Saturday.
