Mark Clattenburg takes four weeks off following heavy criticism

Mark Clattenburg is expected to take a month off from refereeing in the Premier League as a reaction to the criticism he has received following a tortuous week.The Tyneside official is believed to have told friends he is disillusioned with the reaction to high profile incidents involving Wayne Rooney and Mario Balotelli, followed by the storm when he awarded a late penalty to Fulham against Blackburn.The 35-year-old, who has been on the Select Group of refs since 2004, is understood to have suggested to boss Mike Riley that the March fixture list, which features only one round of Premier League games as a result of FA Cup and international dates, would be an ideal time to take a break. Take a break: Clattenburg has come under fire for his decisions in recent matchesIt is not known if he will continue to be available for UEFA commitments.  Graham Poll: Clattenburg did himself no favours in bid to return to shadowsBlatter: FA should have punished Rooney retrospectively over elbowClattenburg giving serious thought to quitting after week of controversyRef Clattenburg needs time away from the spotlight, says unhappy Kean  Explore more:People: Wayne Rooney, Mike Riley, Mario Balotelli

Source: Daily_Mail