Mark Clattenburg won’t be the only referee to leave the Premier League, according to former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys
Durham official set to pocket £500,000-a-year tax free after heading to Saudi Arabia, with Michael Oliver set for the MLS
FORMER Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys has claimed more referees will follow in Mark Clattenburg's footsteps in leaving the Premier League.
The now BeIN Sports host, 59, revealed he has been told that other top-flight officials are looking to take inspiration from Clattenburg and cash in on a mega-bucks contract.
Keys' revelation comes just a day after another Premier League ref Michael Oliver has been targeted by the MLS in another big-money move.
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Ex-Sky man Keys was quick to point out this could be a real problem for the English top flight, saying: “I’m gutted that we’ve lost our top ref.
“I’m told he might not be the last to go either. The Premier League can’t afford this.
“He’s world class. Our league will miss him. More will follow. Then what?”
Keys also defended Clattenburg's decision, with many likening his move to the Middle East to footballers such as Carlos Tevez and Oscar 'selling out' to head to China for a mega-bucks contract.
He added: “Why is someone in football ‘greedy’ if they take a job better than the one they’re in? We all do it.”
Clattenburg is set to earn a whopping £500,000-a-year tax free in Saudi Arabia following his offer from the Saudi Arabia Football Federation.
His decision to quit the Premier League is apparently down to the lack of support from his employers - the Professional Game Match Officials Limited.
Durham official Clatts is said to be particularly upset at the way he was dealt with following the 2012 incident between himself and then-Chelsea midfielders Juan Mata and John Obi Mikel.
Former Premier League official Mark Halsey has called Clattenburg's decision to leave a 'great loss'.
Halsey said: “I guess it is a shock to everyone in football, but not to me.
“Listen, we have done many games together, he has been my fourth official, I have been his fourth official.
“We are good friends off the pitch and I think he has just become disillusioned with what is going on at the PGMOL and the management or lack of.
“I think it is a great great loss to the referee fraternity.
"I mean if you look at grass roots level, young referees starting out today, you at Mark Clattenburg, you look his decision making, you look at the way he deals with players, manages players and he is going to be a great loss."
