Mark Clattenburg is clear about the worst refereeing performance of his career – and it lives with him to this day. The Englishman rose to the highest level of officiating, taking the Champions League and European Championship finals in 2016
But despite all that glitz and glamour, one fixture stands out like a sore thumb from his early Premier League dayClattenburg, 50, says he received death threats after botching the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in October 2007 – and was banned from officiating the Toffees for six years afterwards. He said it felt like a ‘war’ he was unprepared for. Clattenburg missed a blatant penalty call late on, sent two Everton stars off, and appeared to take instructions from Steven Gerrard – though obviously he didn’t.
Liverpool won 2-1 after a ferocious 90 minutes. The blue half of the city was seething. ‘There’s one game I wish I could referee again’, Clattenburg began on Daily Mail Sport’s Whistleblowers podcast.
was a young referee. I was only one year into my Premier League career, but I had already been given Manchester United-City and the North London derby the previous week.’I was appointed to referee Everton-Liverpool at Goodison.
I am not using this as an excuse, but I had never experienced that type of derby before.’It was ferocious. This was a working-class derby, and I got it completely wrong.
‘The match saw Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool come from behind to beat David Moyes’ Everton 2-1.Everton led at the break after defender Sami Hyypia turned the ball into his own net.
But the game turned on its head in the second half when Clattenburg sent off two Everton players and awarded Liverpool two penalties. Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville were both giving their marching orders, and Dirk Kuyt lapped up both chances gleefully from 12 yards. The referee recounted: ‘I sent off two Everton players. One, the Everton fans thought I changed my mind because of Steven Gerrard.’He walked past the camera when I was changing from a yellow to a red card… but it was always a red card for Tony Hibbert.
It looked like Gerrard said something to me, and I had changed my mind. That obviously never happened. I also sent off Phil Neville for a handball on the line.’The worst mistake I made was near the end of the game. I don’t know what was going on in my mind.’Jamie Carragher pulled down Joleon Lescott for an easy penalty. If I had given it, Everton had the chance to equalise.’In the eyes of Everton, I had made three big errors – all the big decisions seemed to go in Liverpool’s favour.’
Clattenburg admitted he learned the hard way about managing the optics of his decisions, not just their accuracy.’After the game, I received death threats. I didn’t referee an Everton game for six years afterwards’, the referee told podcast co-host Ian Ladyman.
I was a young referee, and I did recover. I refereed Everton years later for some amazing matches. Beating Manchester City 4-0, Moyes’s last game.’But people only remember that one moment – football fans never forgive you. It doesn’t matter how many good decisions you go on to make.’
