CLATTENBURG: REFS ARE 'MOST HATED SPECIES'

Published date01 January 2021
Date01 January 2021
Publication titleDaily Star (England)
The former Premier League referee says officials get death threats and the stress and worry over taking charge of big matches was affecting his mental health.

Clattenburg admitted that he cannot even remember the biggest games of his career - the 2016 Champions League final and Euro 2016 final -

because he was so worried about making a mistake.

"I left the Premier League three years ago and I still get abuse all the time," Clattenburg told the BBC.

"Referees are the most hated species in football, people vent their anger at them. It's a thankless job.

"That's a society issue as well, keyboard warriors who are faceless and can constantly abuse you. Some people find that hard to deal with. You make decisions in a split-second and most of the time you are correct.

"If you get them wrong you are going to get death threats and social media abuse. These things go on in your head before you make those decisions."

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