Mark Clattenburg

The commanding and authoritative Mark Clattenburg is a professional football referee, and is considered one of the most highly-rated European officials of his generation. He also runs a nutrition and wellbeing company with his wife, Claire, called Herbalife Nutrition. His autobiography, Whistle Blower, was published in 2021.

Born and raised in County Durham, Clattenburg took up refereeing in 1990 as part of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and became an assistant referee in the Northern League aged 18. He moved up the leagues, and was rapidly promoted to the National List of Football League referees in the year 2000. He made his Football League debut on 12 August 2000, aged 25, a one-time post-War record. He turned professional in 2004 and started refereeing Premier League matches. He became a FIFA referee in 2006, at the age of 30, and has gone on to referee the 2012 Football League Cup Final, the 2012 Olympics Men’s final, the 2014 UEFA Super Cup, the 2016 FA Cup Final, the 2016 UEFA Champions League Final, the UEFA Euro 2016 Final, and the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup Final. In 2017 he left the Premier League for a role with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. In 2019 he was hired by the CFA to become a professional referee in China.

Off the football pitch, Clattenburg works as a football pundit, advising on refereeing decisions. During Euro 2020 he was with ESPN as their officiating and VAR expert.

Clattenburg regularly connects with his legions of followers and fans through Twitter, and Instagram, posting pictures and videos about his life around football and nutrition.