Former Premier League referee’s new job leaves fans baffled after BBC cameras spot him at FA Cup clash

FOOTBALL fans were left confused by Mark Clattenburg’s new job after he was spotted at Nottingham Forest’s clash with Manchester United.

Earlier this month, the ex-Premier League referee, 48, was hired by Forest to become their “referee analyst”.

BBC

Mark Clattenburg, left, sat next to PGMOL chief Howard Webb for Nottingham Forest’s clash with Manchester United[/caption]

Clattenburg has been hired as Forest’s ‘referee analyst’Getty

It came as they watched decisions go against them in games against Newcastle and West Ham.

Clattenburg, who refereed in the Premier League from 2004 to 2017, was in the stands for Forest’s 1-0 defeat to Man Utd on Wednesday evening.

And he was sat alongside PGMOL chief Howard Webb as he took in the match.

But when his job title flashed up on the screen – “Referee Analyst, Nottingham Forest” – many took to social media to joke about the baffling role he has undertaken.

One said: “Why on earth have Nottingham Forest hired Mark Clattenburg as a ‘Referee Analyst’?”

Another added: “That should be unacceptable.”

While a third replied: “Can we all talk about how Forest have hired Clattenburg and there [he] was tonight sitting beside the chief referee Howard Webb, absolutely mental .”

And a fourth joked: “Clattenburg would be more use on set pieces .”

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

Clattenburg refereed 297 Premier League games across a 13-year period.

He also took charge of the 2016 Champions League final and the Euro 2016 final between Portugal and France.

He has recently been the lead referee in BBC TV show Gladiators.

The classic series, which originally aired on ITV from 1992 to 2000, made a comeback earlier this year.