Respected English referee, Mark Clattenburg has revealed how he felt when he was accused of racially abusing Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel.
Clattenburg said he felt bad and his family went through “hell”.
The allegation was laid when Chelsea lost to Manchester United on October 28, 2012.
Clattenburg, who refereed the 2016 UEFA Champions League final and Euro 2016, said he almost quit the game in 2012 when the allegation was made.
Reaffirming his innocence, the 43-year-old retired referee said, “The first few days I was soul-searching — you know you’re innocent yet you’re made to feel otherwise.
“I knew it wasn’t true, but I could not speak. Me and my family went through hell — I even thought about quitting.”
Mikel was later fined £60,000 and banned for three matches after threatening Clattenburg over the incident.
Clattenburg is currently working with the Saudi Arabia Football Federation.