Premier League referees are granted special request on their last game
Referees have to put up with an awful lot don't they?
If tolerating nagging players, wide-eyed managers, freezing cold conditions and thousands of fans getting on their back was not enough, they also have to listen to the gibbering of their colleagues in the VAR rooms of Stockley Park on their little Madonna like head-sets. The life of a referee can be a lonely one.
However, according to former Premier League official Mark Clattenburg, each official is given one special request on their final match – well, at least they are supposed to.
READ MORE: Seven Premier League clubs named who blocked ban on loaning players from partner teams
READ MORE: Tyrone Mings shows off vile scars from awful knee injury as he shares rehab footage
Join the Daily Star's WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots more
The Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!
Through the app, we'll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens…along with the latest breaking news of course.
To join our community, all you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in!
No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Clattenburg, 48, was one of the most respected referees in world football during his thirteen year stint blowing the whistle in the Premier League. His authority also earned him the honours of refereeing the 2016 Champions League final and the Euro 2016 final.
He refereed his final Premier League match in the 2016-17 season. after more than a decade of being the one in the middle. However, he was not given the send-off he claims he was entitled to.
What other refereeing stories do you remember? Let us know in the comment section below
In his book, 'Whistle Blower: My Autobiography', he claimed referees were able to choose where they would like to officiate in their final match. "Mike Riley asked where I would like to referee my last Premier League match," Clattenburg claimed. "'I would love it to be at Spurs, at White Hart Lane,’ I told him.
"My family could go, we could get a nice box and have a weekend in London. That happened for every referee, they always chose their last game. After the service I had given to the Premier League, I assumed my request would be granted. What a stupid assumption to make."
Not only was he not given his final match at Tottenham, his game was very far away from London. "I ended up back at West Brom, where your guests are stuck on the far side of the ground," he added.
"It is not the best experience for them compared to the hospitality elsewhere. But that was [Mike] Riley in a nutshell in my experience. He had no respect. To do that to me was snide, it was insulting."
Source: Read Full Article
