EPL referee Mark Clattenburg has been forced to "sever ties with a football agency that also represents players amid concerns about a potential conflict of interest," according to James Ducker of the LONDON TIMES. Senior referees officials "had reacted with dismay to the news" that Clattenburg, "one of the country’s top match officials," had signed a deal with Catalyst4Soccer, a sports management company whose clients are "predominantly professional footballers." Clattenburg ended his relationship with C4S after talks with Professional Game Match Officials Ltd. Head Mike Riley. A spokesperson for the referees’ governing body said, "Mark has decided not to work with the agency and as far as PGMOL is concerned that is the end of the matter" (LONDON TIMES, 2/24). The London GUARDIAN reported Clattenburg had been "granted permission in principle by the PGMOL to gain help in managing his off-field activities such as after-dinner speaking and charity appearances," but the body is believed to have been "unaware it would involve an agency also representing players" (GUARDIAN, 2/24).
