Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg never got the chance to officiate a Rangers v Celtic game.
The blood and thunder of the Old Firm derby is famous across the globe and it’s not only a match that players are desperate to play in, but that whistlers want to officiate too.
That’s even if any mistake is forensically poured over, just as it was in the fall out from the Rangers v Celtic Final in the Premier Sports Cup this season.
Clattenburg insists that it’s one of his biggest career ‘regrets’ that he never got the chance to officiate the Old Firm derby, the history of Rangers v Celtic speaking for itself.
Speaking exclusively to Rangers News, Clattenburg also puts missing out on Rangers v Celtic up there with another famous derby clash he never got the chance to officiate.
Mark Clattenburg on Rangers v Celtic ‘regret’
Mark Clattenburg has explained that Rangers and Celtic is one of the most famous matches in football and that he’d have ‘loved’ to officiate the game.
But whilst the Old Firm has an allure all of its own, Clattenburg admits that El Clasico also evaded him during his time as a top referee.
Despite officiating in the Champions League, the two clubs never met each other in the competition during his time as a whistler.
“I would have loved to referee (the Old Firm) as you know the history and rivalry,” Clattenburg said.
“This and the El Clasico was also a regret as they did not draw each other in Champions League when I was referee.”
What Scottish referees have told Mark Clattenburg about Old Firm derby
Mark Clattenburg has revealed that Scottish referees have warned him about the ‘intensity’ of the Old Firm battle.
Anyone familiar with Rangers v Celtic matches knows that the man in the middle is under intense scrutiny from the first blow of the whistle until the last, and even sometimes weeks afterwards.
It’s why Willie Collum wound up admitting VAR was wrong in the Premier Sports Cup Final after the failure to award Vaclav Cerny a penalty kick in extra time of the match.
Whilst mistakes can happen, Clattenburg explains that Scottish officials have explained the root of the problem; that no matter what they do they’re always accused of being a supporter of either club.
Clattenburg explains: “I have spoke to many Scottish referees and it’s always intense as you are always accused of being a supporter of one of the clubs.”
But what about how Clattenburg himself would referee a Rangers v Celtic match?
Well like every good official, the referee hopes that he could apply the rules of common sense and that come full-time, it’s the football and not his decision-making that makes headlines.
Clattenburg said: “I would referee it with common sense and empathy and hope that the match is talked about for the football and not referee decisions.”
