Former Premier League Referee Clattenburg Reveals Suicide Consideration After False Racism Accusations

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg revealed that he contemplated suicide after being falsely accused of making racist remarks towards Chelsea player John Obi Mikel during a 2012 match against Manchester United. The allegations led to investigations by the Football Association and the Metropolitan Police, causing Clattenburg to miss several weeks of officiating while under intense media scrutiny. Despite the devastating impact on his mental health and family life, including sleepless nights and soul-searching, Clattenburg was eventually cleared of all accusations and resumed his refereeing career. He credited his infant daughter for saving him from taking his own life, highlighting the profound pressure and fear he experienced as he faced the possibility of losing his career and livelihood. Chelsea later expressed regret over how the situation was handled and the distress it caused Clattenburg and his family. Clattenburg has since moved on from Premier League refereeing and now works in Saudi Arabia and on television.