Concert-loving Clattenburg axed

Cape Town - English Premiership referee Mark Clattenburg will miss the next round of EPL fixtures for breaking protocol.

Officially the Premier League has labelled the issue "an internal matter" but the Daily Mail report that Clattenburg was left out after failing to follow regulations.

So what did Clattenburg do to earn himself a week on the referee's bench? He traveled in his own car to officiate the West Brom vs Crystal Palace match so he could back home in time to watch an Ed Sheeran concert.

EPL regulations require the referee and his assistants to travel together to and from games for integrity and security purposes.

Clattenburg was also "caught offisde" as it was revealed that he spoke to Neil Warnock, the Crystal Palace manager, while in his car, despite the rule which only allows for conversation between the referee and managers "after a game, only when all the assistants are present or with the permission of referees’ body Professional Game Match Officials".

Clattenburg's previous run in's with the ruling body include: serving an eight-month suspension after an investigation into his personal life and business debts, alleged use of inappropriate language towards John Obi Mikel (he was cleared and Mikel was disciplined).