2025-10-15 19:21:03
There isn’t a job in football that comes under more scrutiny than that of a referee. Whether it’s jeers from the stands, managers from the dugout or players within touching distance, criticism is often everywhere to be seen no matter the reason for certain decisions. And that’s even been the case for some of the best referees to step foot in English football.
Mark Clattenburg is considered one of those. The 50-year-old took charge of some of the biggest games that both English and European football has to offer during his 11-year spell in the centre circle, including the Champions League final in 2016.
Since then, he hasn’t been afraid to reveal all about the career of an experienced referee, telling stories about arguments with Jurgen Klopp and even taking aim at current PGMOL head chief Howard Webb.
Clattenburg also isn’t the first ex-Premier League referee to be so open about his career. Graham Scott recently appeared on talkSPORT to speak about the frustrations of VAR and why he felt sorry after ruling out Alexis Mac Allister’s wonder goal a few years ago.
He said: “Off the field you can’t control anything and the noise now is insane. It’s almost unbearable and it becomes an extremely challenging role. Then, layering on top of that being VAR, as I’ve tried to convey in my piece, being a VAR is utterly unenjoyable.”
Now, Clattenburg has explained a regret of his own and one that left Everton boss David Moyes fuming several years ago.
Clattenburg: I got Everton decision “completely wrong”
Speaking on the Daily Mail Sport’s Whistleblowers podcast, Clattenburg revealed he got one Everton decision “completely wrong” in the 2007 Merseyside derby. The referee sent off two Everton players that day, with one being Tony Hibbert and the other being Phil Neville, which sparked fury from Moyes.
Clattenburg also failed to award the Toffees a late penalty when Jamie Carragher hauled Joleon Lescott to the ground, which he has now admitted was the wrong decision as the Red went on to seal victory.
“It was ferocious. This was a working-class derby, and I got it completely wrong. 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.”
Moyes was left incredibly frustrated after the game and told reporters: “You wonder whether they allow themselves to be influenced by the top four. Didn’t Clattenburg go to Hong Kong with Liverpool for the Asia Cup this summer? Maybe he wants to be their friend.”
