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Mark Clattenburg showed 48 red cards in 292 Premier League games
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg says the video assistant referee could “save a referee’s career” but believes the laws of the game need to be revised to make them more compatible with modern technology.
Clattenburg left the Premier League in 2017 before VAR was introduced and is largely in favor of the help it provides to officials.
“I totally agree,” he said. “I want something to save my career as a referee.
“Look at Martin Hansson, who missed Thierry Henry’s famous external link against the Republic of Ireland – his career ended.
“We have lost the focus that it was destined for clear and obvious mistakes, outrageous decisions.”
In an extensive interview with BBC Radio 5 Live’s Steve Crossman, Clattenburg also spoke about his journey from electrician to top referee, the pitfalls of social media, the future of female referees, Ed Sheeran’s concerts, and his tattoos.
You can listen to the full interview on 5 Live or on BBC Sounds starting at 19:00 GMT on Thursday.
‘VAR: the laws of the game are not compatible’
The Premier League introduced VAR at the start of the 2019-20 season. In a poll for BBC Sport this month, only a third of football fans in the UK said they believe football has improved.
Fans have become used to seeing lines drawn on replay screens as fringe offside are controlled, while handballs have also proven controversial.
Clattenburg says the laws need to be reinterpreted to make better use of technology.
“Have we taken technology too far? I think we have, but when you have a new toy you want to play with it, use it in different ways,” he said.
How the penalties will be affected by the VAR
“The laws of the game are old and not compatible with technology. We need to change the laws of the VAR. The offside needs to be reviewed. We want scoring opportunities, action in the mouth.
“We have to go back to what we all wanted for the VAR: to stop the decision of the scandal. The decisions that we cannot accept because the referee has not given them.”
“We have two big tournaments in the next two years, the Euro and the World Cup, so it has to work. The referees need it, we just have to improve it so that everyone can accept it.”
- VAR: Hit or miss? Fan poll on the most controversial debate in football
‘I don’t remember a minute of the Champions League final’, when Real Madrid beat Atlético on penalties in the 2016 Champions League final
Clattenburg reached the peak of his career in 2016 when he took over the Champions League and Euro 2016 finals within a few weeks of each other.
But, in an extensive discussion about the impact of the pressure of such great occasions on the mental health of the referees, he admitted not being able to enjoy those nights.
“I did the final of the Champions League and the final of the Eurocup and I don’t remember anything about them, I didn’t enjoy them and that’s sad now that I’ve retired,” he said.
“I just wanted to start the game and I wanted it to end. I panicked for making a mistake. When it is seen by billions of people around the world there is no escape.
“I used to have nightmares the nights before games about making a mistake, missing a flight, there was so much anxiety.
“We get support, but it’s an isolated industry, you’re very much on your own. Some of the trips home after the games were really difficult if you had a performance that people didn’t accept.”
‘Referees are hated, you receive death threats’
You may think that the lack of fans in Premier League matches right now would be a relief to the referees, but the voices of dissent are still heard.
Clattenburg cares about high-level officials in the age of social media.
“I left the Premier League three years ago and I still receive abuse all the time, during the lockdown they showed old games and recirculated a lot of abuse,” he said.
“When social media started popping up in the middle of my career, I didn’t have an account, so I didn’t read it, but it’s always there. Some referees read it and it’s hard to handle.
“Referees are the most hated species in football, people vent their anger on them. It is a thankless job. That is also a problem of society, the keyboard warriors who have no face and can constantly abuse you Some people find that difficult to deal with, they like negativity.
“You make decisions in a split second and most of the time you are correct. If you do them wrong, you are going to receive death threats and abuse on social media. These things go through your head before you make those decisions.”
‘Sometimes you need to remind yourself that you did well’
Clattenburg made headlines in 2016 when he stepped under the gun and got tattoos from his two biggest finishes tattooed on his arm.
The former referee says they are not just decorative but have a purpose.
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“I am proud of what I have done, it is my body, it is not illegal and nobody can tell me what to do,” he said.
“People may call it selfish, but when you’re going through a moment of sadness, you look at them and you think I did something in my life and tried to be the best that I can be.
“Going out and being a part of the biggest games in Europe makes me very proud. Sometimes you have to remind yourself that you did well.”
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Source: bbc.com
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