I Almost Committed Suicide - Mark Clattenburg Opens Up on John Obi Mikel Racism Allegation

Mark Clattenburg has revealed that the racism allegation involving John Obi Mikel pushed him to the brink and left lasting emotional scars.

Mark Clattenburg has opened up about how being wrongly accused of racism affected him and made him think about taking his own life.

The former Premier League referee faced allegations of racially abusing two Chelsea players, including John Obi Mikel, during a 2012 match against Manchester United.

Following John Obi Mikel’s statement, the Football Association and the police launched an investigation in November 2012, which was later cleared.

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As quoted by Mirror UK, Mark Clattenburg revealed that if he were found to be racist, he would not be able to get a job in normal life or in sport, and that his life would be finished.

He explained that the consequences of his actions left him feeling like he had nowhere to go. While his family was there for him, they did not truly understand what happens inside the world of football.

Mark Clattenburg: The Obi Mikel Situation Affected Me A Lot

"The Obi Mikel situation affected me a lot and affected my family a lot. I think that was the closest I've ever been to suicide and, b, finishing. If I didn't have a way out and I couldn't referee any more, what can I do?” he disclosed.

He added his daughter is the one who stopped him from taking his own life, revealing, “My daughter. My child, because she didn't deserve it. She was only little. I brought her into the world, and it was my responsibility to look after her.”

Mark Clattenburg said that there were times when being alone and single would have made walking away the easiest decision in the world, but having responsibilities made him fight harder.

Clattenburg, 50, added that if he had not been so strong-willed, he was not sure he would still be here today.

He also shared that although he would have liked to quit football, he could not because he had a mortgage to pay and a family to support, including his son Nathan from his first marriage.

"When you leave your industry, you become a professional referee. My industry was electrical, but unfortunately, because I'd been in football for ten years, or eight years, my industry had moved on so much I would have had to requalify, retrain,” he added.

"There's a lot of other stuff, so I'd have to go through four, five years. At that point, nobody would probably employ us. So I'm unemployable. So it's not just about refereeing, I've got to protect my family. I've got to protect them financially.”

Mark Clattenburg recalled that he remembered getting a Sky Sports notification on his mobile phone that read, ‘Mark Clattenburg has been accused of racial discrimination against two Chelsea players,' and right after that, the phone calls started.

Clattenburg said he was about to board a flight to Newcastle when it all began. He said that while on the flight, he was sitting with his phone turned off, unaware of what would unfold in the next 30 minutes. He recalled that a boy sat next to him, and it was a moment he would never forget.

"He said 'you've had a bad day today', because he must have read the message. And the minute I landed, Claire. I'd had a newborn, she was only six months old, and Claire's hysterical. That first few days, everybody was thinking I was guilty," he revealed.

Clattenburg’s story is a sobering reminder of how damaging false accusations can be, not just to careers but to lives. Though he was eventually cleared, the emotional toll nearly broke him.