Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg reveals the inside story of how he fled Egypt after a team’s president falsely outed him as gay – despite him being married with kids

Mark Clattenburg has opened up about leaving his role as head of Egypt’s refereeing commission after being falsely accused of being gay.

The former Premier League referee took up the role in August 2022, where he was tasked with improving the performance of officials in the country.

However, he left just five months later after reportedly receiving threats from supporters – although the Egyptian Football Association said security fears were ‘exaggerated’.

Clattenburg was heavily criticized by Mortada Mansour, the president of the Zamalek Sporting Club, who claimed under several baseless accusations that he had left his wife Claire to pursue a gay relationship.

The 49-year-old has broken his silence on the matter on the website Ben Heath podcastin which he said that he found many things ‘difficult’ in Egypt.

Clattenburg left his role as head of the Egyptian Referee Commission in January 2023

Zamalek’s president accused Clattenburg (right) of leaving his wife Claire (center) and starting a gay relationship (the couple pictured at the 2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix)

“There were a lot of difficulties in Egypt and also the financial crash of the dollar, when I was paid in dollars.

“There were a lot of things that were difficult and then the president of Zamalek made a statement that I was gay, which was quite insulting in Egypt and quite disrespectful – especially when I have a family.

“But he knew that word is quite offensive in Egypt.”

When asked by Heath whether the Zamalek president said it on purpose because of the reaction it would cause, Clattenburg replied: “Yes and there were many other things, I didn’t have my salary and I also found it difficult to live. Egypt.

‘Egyptian people are great, but if you’ve lived in Spain, Greece or England, there are fewer restrictions (in those countries).

‘It is difficult to drive in Egypt, because they drive very differently than anywhere else in Europe. You can’t go from A to B, you can’t go to a shopping center, I lived in a hotel.

‘I was particularly dissatisfied with the salary I received. They found it difficult because my salary was clearly late. It was an easy decision and both sides came to an agreement.”

Clattenburg added that people did not “respect” or “believe” Mansour’s claims that he was gay, and stressed that he was making the country’s referees “as fair as possible”.

The Egyptian Football Association confirmed his dismissal in January 2023 but dismissed any security concerns

In a TV appearance, Mansour also called out the Englishman, describing him as a ‘bribed man’ and suggesting he gave certain referees certain matches to ensure the matches ended early. However, the claims were completely baseless.

Although same-sex sexual activity is not explicitly criminalized in Egypt, LGBT people have been prosecuted in the past on charges of “debauchery” and there is little public acceptance of homosexuality.

At the time there were reports that Clattenburg had not received two months of his £32,000 monthly salary.

Egypt’s Football Association denied that its referee appointments had been changed and claimed concerns about his safety were ‘exaggerated’, branding the country the safest in the world.’

Clattenburg, photographed in September 2022 during a coaching course, was reportedly the subject of threats

Clattenburg has held several positions abroad since stepping down as a Premier League referee in 2017.

He initially took over as head of refereeing in Saudi Arabia, a role previously held by fellow former Premier League official Howard Webb.

He also worked in China and Greece before taking up the position in Egypt.

This season he briefly took on a consultant role at Nottingham Forest – from which he resigned last month – while he is also a referee on the BBC show Gladiators.