Mark Clattenburg To Referee In Chinese Super League

By Max Wise

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg will return to full-time officiating in the Chinese Super League after ending his two-year spell as head of referees in Saudi Arabia.

The 43-year old Englishman was a Premier League referee from 2004 to 2017 before accepting to replace Howard Webb as Saudi Arabia’s chief of referees.

Mark Clattenburg has taken charge of some of the biggest games in world football including the final game of the 2016 European Championships as well as the 2016 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

Clattenburg told the Daily Mail: "I'm excited by the new challenge. The Chinese Super League has grown markedly in recent years and they want the standard of refereeing to grow with it.

"I'm looking forward to being part of that. You look at the quality of the players, so many in the peak of their career, and it is clear to see the ambition of the league and the clubs within it."

Clattenburg will be one of five foreign referees who will be eligible to officiate in the Chinese Super League from March.

The Chinese Super League is one of the fastest growing leagues in the world with clubs from the Asian country taking advantage of their financial prowess to poach top stars from major European Leagues.

Former Premier League players like Marouane Fellaini, Ramires, Oscar and Moussa Dembele all ply their trade for various clubs in the Chinese Super League.