Mark Clattenburg dropped for weekend games after going to Ed Sheeran gig



Mark Clattenburg has been dropped for this weekend’s Premier League fixtures after breaking protocol so he could watch an Ed Sheeran concert.

Clattenburg drove home alone after officiating West Brom’s home game against Crystal Palace so he could get back to Newcastle to watch Sheeran perform at the Metro Radio Arena.

The rules of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited state that officials must travel to and from the ground together to protect their integrity and security.

It also emerged that Clattenburg had broken another rule by speaking to Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock on the phone in his car after the 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns. Premier League rules allow referees to speak to managers only when their assistants are present or when given permission, to stop employees speaking to managers in potentially highly-charged circumstances where witnesses may be needed.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/oct/29/referee-mark-clattenburg-dropped-ed-sheeran