Mark Clattenburg has accused Howard Webb of pursuing personal agendas and recounted an incident where Webb reportedly told him that his salary was insufficient. This revelation reveals the strained dynamics between them.
On the Daily Mail’s Whistleblowers podcast, Clattenburg described seeing a different side of Webb during their time at Euro 2012. He recalled feeling excluded by Webb and other officials from a social gathering after a match.
Clattenburg suspected their relationship further deteriorated when he joined Nottingham Forest, detecting resentment from members of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), who were uneasy about a former referee working with a football club.
Currently, Webb leads PGMOL, the organization in charge of the training and management of professional referees in English football. He has faced criticism due to numerous VAR issues in recent seasons.
‘I wouldn’t say I’m friends with Howard,’ Clattenburg told co-host Gordon Smart.
You can listen to the latest episode of Whistleblowers by clicking the player below or here
Mark Clattenburg has accused Howard Webb of ‘having his own agendas’ and declared he cannot respect the PGMOL chief as a person
Clattenburg claimed Webb asked him about his salary while he worked for Nottingham Forest
Clattenburg (left) revealed he and Webb (centre right) were not friends during his career
Clattenburg commented, “I have respect for him, but he appears to have his own agendas, which have been evident for years. During EURO 2012, I witnessed a different side of him.”
‘I remember being the additional (assistant) behind the goal with Martin Atkinson, Howard Webb and his two assistants.
‘After the match, we had all arranged to go into one of the rooms and have a few beers, as we always did after every international.
‘But that night, they all disappeared. The next day, I asked: “What happened?”
‘I was told they’d gone to bed early – that was the line, but actually, they’d all gone out to a party.
‘I respect Howard for what he’s done as a referee in management, but as a person, I can’t respect the man.’
Clattenburg also recounted an uncomfortable interaction with Webb while at Nottingham Forest, where Webb inquired about Clattenburg’s salary, expressing dissatisfaction with his own pay at PGMOL.
He also described sensing ‘resistance’ within PGMOL to an ex-referee working for a club, which he believes created animosity as his Forest role put him in opposition to the organisation.
Webb is arguably the most decorated English referee of the modern era, officiating the 2010 Champions League final, the 2010 World Cup final and 296 Premier League matches
Clattenburg and Webb pictured as part of the officiating team ahead of a Euro 2012 group game
Clattenburg was appointed by Forest in February 2024 as a refereeing consultant, advising the board and acting as a conduit between the club and PGMOL on officiating disputes.
The former referee resigned just three months into the position after Forest posted a controversial statement accusing VAR Stuart Attwell of being a Luton fan and questioning his integrity.
Clattenburg said: ‘You know what I think Webb’s problem is? He doesn’t want anyone to be as successful as him.
‘When I was at Forest, for example, the conversations between us were: “What’s your salary?”
‘Sorry, it shouldn’t be about salary. But he was always complaining to me that he wasn’t paid well enough.
‘That’s not my problem. He took the decision to go and be employed [by PGMOL] – I’ve decided to do other things.
‘There was always this resistance from people within PGMOL, that an ex-referee could work at a football club.
‘I think that created a bit of animosity between me and Webb.’
The PGMOL declined to comment.
To hear Clattenburg’s critique of Howard Webb in full, search for Whistleblowers now, wherever you get your podcasts.
