Mark Clattenburg is clear about the worst refereeing performance of his career – and it lives with him to this day.  

The Englishman rose to the highest level of officiating, taking the Champions League and European Championship finals in 2016. 

But despite all that glitz and glamour, one fixture stands out like a sore thumb from his early Premier League days.

He described the experience as a ‘war’ for which he was not prepared. Clattenburg overlooked a clear penalty late in the match, dismissed two Everton players, and appeared as though he was taking cues from Steven Gerrard—although he was not. Liverpool emerged victorious with a 2-1 score after an intense 90 minutes. The Everton fans were infuriated.

‘There’s one game I wish I could referee again’, Clattenburg began on Daily Mail Sport’s Whistleblowers podcast. 

Mark Clattenburg has described his first Merseyside derby as the worst refereeing performance of his decades-long career

Clattenburg said the 2007 clash at Goodison Park felt ‘like a war’ that he was mentally unprepared for

‘I was an inexperienced referee at that time, with only a year in the Premier League. Despite this, I had already officiated significant matches such as Manchester United vs. City and the North London derby the week before.

‘I was appointed to referee Everton-Liverpool at Goodison. I am not using this as an excuse, but I had never experienced that type of derby before.

‘It was ferocious. This was a working-class derby, and I got it completely wrong.’

The match saw Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool come from behind to beat David Moyes’ Everton 2-1.

Everton led at the break after defender Sami Hyypia turned the ball into his own net.

The game dramatically shifted in the second half when Clattenburg dismissed two Everton players and awarded Liverpool two penalties. Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville were both shown red cards, and Dirk Kuyt eagerly converted both penalties from 12 yards out.

The referee recounted: ‘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.

Clattenburg admitted he learned the hard way about managing the optics of his decisions, not just their accuracy

Mark Clattenburg: ‘The North London derby was a football match. This was a war.’

‘It seemed as though Gerrard had influenced my decision, though that was not the case. Additionally, I sent Phil Neville off for a handball on the goal 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.

‘In the eyes of Everton, I had made three big errors – all the big decisions seemed to go in Liverpool’s favour.’

Clattenburg admitted he learned the hard way about managing the optics of his decisions, not just their accuracy.

‘After the game, I received death threats. I didn’t referee an Everton game for six years afterwards’, the referee told podcast co-host Ian Ladyman.

‘I learnt a lot from that game, how to understand a match, how to balance the emotions of a big derby.

‘The North London derby was a football match. This was a war. I lost control. I lost my ability to make decisions.

‘I was a young referee, and I did recover. I refereed Everton years later for some amazing matches. Beating Manchester City 4-0, Moyes’s last game.

‘But people only remember that one moment – football fans never forgive you. It doesn’t matter how many good decisions you go on to make.’

To hear Mark’s full account of the derby he wishes he could referee again, search for Whistleblowers, wherever you get your podcasts.