Even the most celebrated referees have moments they wish they could take back, and for Mark Clattenburg, that moment came early in his Premier League career.
The English official, who later rose to officiate Champions League and European Championship finals, says one derby at Goodison Park continues to haunt him to this day.
A Young Referee Thrust Into a Fiery Derby
Clattenburg, 50, recounted on the Whistleblowers podcast how the Merseyside derby in October 2007 felt like a “war” he was entirely unprepared for.
Only a year into his Premier League career, he had already handled high-profile matches like Manchester United vs. Manchester City and the North London derby.
Yet nothing could prepare him for the intensity of Everton vs. Liverpool.
“I was a young referee. I was only one year into my Premier League career… I had never experienced that type of derby before,” Clattenburg said.
“It was ferocious, and I got it completely wrong.”
The Game That Sparked Outrage
Everton initially led 1-0 at halftime thanks to an own goal by defender Sami Hyypia.
But the match flipped in the second half when Clattenburg sent off two Everton players and awarded Liverpool two penalties.
Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville were shown red cards, while Dirk Kuyt converted both spot-kicks, helping Liverpool come from behind to win 2-1 under Rafa Benitez’s management.
Clattenburg admitted one of his biggest mistakes was late in the game.
“Jamie Carragher pulled down Joleon Lescott for an easy penalty. If I had given it, Everton could have equalised.
In the eyes of Everton, I had made three big errors—everything seemed to go Liverpool’s way.”
Misunderstood Moments and Fallout
The referee also clarified a common misconception. Everton fans believed he changed a yellow card to a red under the influence of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who walked past during the decision.
“That obviously never happened,” Clattenburg said. “It was always a red for Tony Hibbert.”
The aftermath of the match was severe. Clattenburg received death threats and was barred from officiating Everton games for six years.
He described the experience as a lesson in managing not just the rules, but the optics and emotions of high-stakes fixtures.
Learning From Early Mistakes
“After the game, I learned a lot about understanding a match and balancing the emotions of a big derby,” Clattenburg reflected. “The North London derby was a football match.
This was a war. I lost control. I lost my ability to make decisions.”
Despite the early setback, Clattenburg went on to referee Everton again in later years for notable matches, including a 4-0 win over Manchester City and David Moyes’ final game in charge.
Yet, he acknowledged the harsh reality of football: fans rarely forget mistakes.
Full Story Available on Whistleblowers
For fans interested in Clattenburg’s detailed account of the Merseyside derby that still lingers in his memory, the full episode is available on the Whistleblowers podcast wherever podcasts are streamed.