Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has opened up about how a false racism accusation nearly made him take his own life.

The incident happened in 2012 when Chelsea player Mikel John Obi accused Clattenburg of using racist language during a match. Clattenburg has now revealed that the accusation hit him so hard that he thought about ending his life.

According to Clattenburg, what saved him was his daughter. He said, “My child didn’t deserve it. She was only little. If I was on my own, single, that was the easiest decision in the world. But when you’ve got responsibilities, it makes you fight more.”

He recalled how he first heard about the allegation. It came as a shock while he was at Heathrow Airport. A Sky Sports alert popped up on his phone, telling him what he had been accused of.

Now 50 years old, Clattenburg shared his story during an episode of the High Performance podcast. He described the time as one of the darkest moments of his life, saying he felt trapped and hopeless.

“The Obi Mikel situation affected me a lot and affected my family a lot,” he said. “That was the closest I’ve ever been to suicide. If I didn’t have a way out and I couldn’t referee anymore, what could I do? If I’m a racist, I’m not going to get a job in normal life. My life’s finished.”

Despite the pain, Clattenburg didn’t give up. He continued his career and went on to referee some of the biggest matches in football. He officiated the final of Euro 2016 and the Champions League final, proving he was one of the best referees in the sport.

“Then the phone calls started. I was about to board a flight to Newcastle. When I landed, my partner Claire was hysterical. Everyone thought I was guilty.”
 

His story is a powerful reminder of how damaging false accusations can be, and how important it is to support mental health—especially in the world of sports.