Mark Clattenburg denies ‘preposterous’ claim he refused to send off Leicester player in 2015/16

Mark Clattenburg says Danny Simpson’s claims that he refused to send off a Leicester player because he wanted him to win the Premier League are “absurd” and is now considering legal action.

The former referee was stunned this week when he learned of Simpson’s comments on a podcast.

The 36-year-old former Leicester defender said: “I remember Clattenburg. Wow. I think I should have sent someone. He said something like: ‘I should have sent you there, but I want you to win.’

‘I had to pretend I didn’t hear it. I was laughing out loud on the inside and thought, “Yeah, we’re doing this.”

“I think it was actually Drinky (Danny Drinkwater). It was his second yellow card or something and I could have easily sent him off, but he didn’t.

Mark Clattenburg is considering taking legal action after Danny Simpson’s claims about 2015/16

Simpson (R) accused Clattenburg of failing to eject Danny Drinkwater while they were chasing the title

Clattenburg took charge of four games for Leicester during the 2015/16 season, not booking Drinkwater in any of them.

He officiated two games after Christmas, during what would be considered his title run, booking only one player, Robert Huth, in a 4-0 home win over Swansea.

The 47-year-old told Sportsmail: ‘I completely deny the allegations made by Danny Simpson. I find them absurd. They are very serious and could question my integrity.

To suggest that I told a player that I wanted Leicester to win the league is ridiculous. It would have been picked up by our microphones.

‘I didn’t sign Danny Drinkwater during that season. His claims have absolutely no foundation and I have no idea why, seven years later, he decided to say this. The matter is now in the hands of my lawyer.