Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has made the remarkable claim that he “allowed Tottenham to self-destruct” in their 2-2 draw with Chelsea that handed the 2016 Premier League title to Leicester.

The Blues came back from 2-0 down to kill of Spurs’ hopes of top spot in a feisty clash that ended with nine Spurs players booked – though Clattenburg now claims he could have given red cards to three of them.

“It was theatre,” the 42-year-old told the Men in Blazers podcast. “I went in with a gameplan: that I didn’t want Tottenham Hotspur blaming Mark Clattenburg that they were losing the title. There should have been three red cards to Tottenham.

“I allowed them to self-destruct so all the media, all the people in the world went: 'Tottenham lost the title'.

“If I sent three players off from Tottenham, what are the headlines? 'Clattenburg cost Tottenham the title.' It was pure theatre that Tottenham self-destructed against Chelsea and Leicester won the title.”

Chelsea and Tottenham would subsequently be fined a combined £600,000 – later reduced on appeal – for failing to control their players whilst Spurs midfielder Mousa Dembele was banned for six games due to an eye gouge.

Clattenburg was subsequently criticised for his role in the tempestuous events, with ex-Premier League referee Graham Poll saying at the time that the official had allowed the game to get away from him.

But Clattenburg, now working for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, claimed it was part he did not want to allow Spurs to blame him for their missing out on the title, adding that officials also had a “duty to make sure the game is enhanced”.

When it was suggested Clattenburg had scripted the game he said: “I helped the game. I certainly benefited the game by my style of refereeing.

“Some referees would have played by the book; Tottenham would have been down to seven or eight players and probably lost and they would've been looking for an excuse.

“But I didn't give them an excuse, because my gameplan was: Let them lose the title.

“We’re all part of the theatre.”