Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has issued a cautionary message regarding Manchester United’s reported intention to formally challenge the standard of officiating, warning that such a move could create far-reaching consequences for the league as a whole.
According to reports, Manchester United are considering requesting a direct meeting with Howard Webb, the chief of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), after a string of controversial refereeing decisions this season.
Club executives believe these incidents have gone beyond isolated mistakes and have had a tangible impact on their results, ultimately affecting their position in what is shaping up to be an extremely congested Premier League table.
Clattenburg, speaking in an exclusive interview, explained that when a club of Manchester United’s size and influence raises an official complaint, it places the Premier League and its refereeing structure in a difficult position.
He suggested that such public challenges can destabilize the relationship between clubs and officials, potentially leading to unintended complications across the competition.
The former referee emphasized the financial implications involved, noting that league positions are not merely symbolic.
With each place in the Premier League standings estimated to be worth more than £1 million in prize money, even marginal changes caused by refereeing decisions can carry serious economic consequences.
In a season where clubs are separated by fine margins, United’s concerns take on added significance.
Clattenburg also acknowledged that disputes over refereeing are not unique to Manchester United. Every club, he noted, will feel aggrieved at some point during a campaign.
However, he referenced a recent example involving Nottingham Forest, who publicly criticized officials earlier in the season.
According to Clattenburg, that episode appeared to have an adverse effect on Forest, suggesting that taking such grievances into the public domain can sometimes backfire rather than bring about the desired change.
United’s frustration has been fueled by several flashpoint moments throughout the campaign. Among them was an incident in which Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo avoided a red card following a confrontation with Diogo Dalot, a decision that angered United’s camp.
There was also the controversial dismissal of Casemiro in a match against Chelsea, which many within the club felt was harsh.
Adding to the sense of grievance, Howard Webb later issued an apology after officials failed to send off Brentford’s Nathan Collins in another match involving United.
While manager Ruben Amorim has largely refrained from publicly criticizing referees, sources suggest that concerns within the club’s hierarchy have been steadily growing.
Officials are reportedly troubled not by one or two isolated errors, but by what they perceive as a recurring pattern of questionable decisions going against the team.
