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More referees will follow in Mark Clattenburg’s footsteps in leaving the English Premier League, former Sky Sports presenter, Richard Keys, has predicted.
If this happens, it would spell a major crisis for the league.
The Sun UK, quoted Keys, who is now a BeIN Sports host as saying that he has been told that other top-flight officials are looking to take inspiration from Clattenburg and cash in on a mega-bucks contract.
Keys‘ revelation comes just a day after another Premier League ref Michael Oliver has been targeted by the MLS in another big-money move.
Keys, 59, was quick to point out this could be a real problem for the English top flight, saying: “I’m gutted that we’ve lost our top ref.
“I’m told he might not be the last to go either. The Premier League can’t afford this.
“He’s world class. Our league will miss him. More will follow. Then what?”
Keys also defended Clattenburg’s decision, with many likening his move to the Middle East to footballers such as Carlos Tevez and Oscar ‘selling out’ to head to China for a mega-bucks contract.
He added: “Why is someone in football ‘greedy’ if they take a job better than the one they’re in? We all do it.”
Clattenburg is set to earn a whopping £500,000-a-year tax free in Saudi Arabia following his offer from the Saudi Arabia Football Federation.
READ: Referee Mark Clattenburg quits EPL, moves to Saudi Arabia
The decision of Clattenburg, one of the EPL’s top referees to quit the Premier League has been linked to the lack of support from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited.
According to reports, Clattenburg is still pained at the way he was dealt with following the 2012 incident between himself and then-Chelsea midfielders Juan Mata and John Obi Mikel.