Premier League ref Mark Clattenburg is ready to stand down for a month.

The Daily Mail says 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.