No weekend game for ditched Clattenburg

MARK CLATTENBURG has been left off the list of refereeing appointments for next weekend’s Premier League fixtures but neither the league nor his own governing body will confirm it is as a result of his performance in the Merseyside derby last Saturday.

A spokesman for the Professional Game Match Officials organisation, however, said: “All match officials’ performances are constantly monitored and assessed, with subsequent appointments being made on that basis.”

In August, Hampshire referee Rob Styles was stood down from the following weekend’s matches after admitting he awarded Chelsea an erroneous penalty against Liverpool at Anfield which enabled the London team to earn a 1-1 draw.