By Daily Sports on January 2, 2017
English Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has broken his silence over the row with Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi.
The EPL referee was accused of saying “shut up you monkey” to the January 2. Super Eagles’ captain international in 2012.
The FA accepted the player had believed the referee had racially abused him – but Clattenburg was found to have no case to answer.
Chelsea star Mikel was subsequently given a three-match ban and fined £60,000 by the FA for threatening behaviour.
In a rare interview, Clattenburg has spoken only about the incident and how it affected him.
He told AP: “It was a tough moment in life and the pressures were huge.
“It took me a little while to come back because I didn’t know if I wanted to referee or not because I lost the love for refereeing.”
“I am strong willed now. I do what I believe is correct. I’m a professional but I have to make sure I apply my personality to the pitch because you have to have personality and not robots. Players want a little bit of personality.”
Over the New Year period, Clattenburg has been appointed for just West Brom’s clash with Hull on. (NAN)
•Photo shows Mark Clattenburg
Source Daily Sports
Posted January 2, 2017
You may also like...
12th African Games: Igali Charges Wrestlers to Give...
Aigbogun Announces All-Africa Games Squad
UFC in talks for Mayweather, McGregor showdown
Nigeria: Ex-Volleyball Legends Begin Developmental Programme in Ibadan...
Lionel Messi goes on trial over €4.1m unpaid...
Hazard hints at Chelsea's exit
Chelsea, City clash headlines EPL actions
Okoye targets clean record Milan in clash
NFF unveils Flamingo squad for W’Cup qualifying camp
Real Madrid denies plans to appoint sporting director
UBA Pensions ready for annual sports meet
Forget Wilder, fight me; Fury tells Joshua
Onuachu lacks rhythm in Eagles setup – Lawal
Ukah faces Osigwe in historic all-Nigerian PFL clash
UCL: Lookman set for Atletico return against Barca
Organisers brace for National Schools Football tourney
Semi Final Teams Emerge As Coast Clear For Final Ceremony Of 7th U-13 JOF Kids Cup Tournament
Okoye keeps seventh clean sheet in Como draw
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,691 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,019 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,932 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,534 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,463 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,367 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,225 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,770 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,959 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,466 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,874 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,344 views)