Ex-Wigan Athletic star picks up unwanted honour

Clattenburg, 45, took charge of 576 matches during his 17 years in a career that saw him reach FIFA status and officiate the Euro 2016 final.

But it's Latics' agonising play-off defeat at QPR in 2014 that comes to his mind first in terms of players trying to pull the wool over his eyes.

"I had a big problem and it wound me up once, with James McClean," Clattenburg told Paddy Power.

"He was playing for Wigan against QPR in a play-off.

"Obviously, a play-off is a huge game and they were winning 1-0.

"He went to go around Rob Green, and I had a great position and I’ve seen him dive.

"As he went over, he’s looking for the penalty appeal for the penalty, and I gave him the yellow card for diving.

"He just turned around to us and he said, ‘So what? I’m a winger. It’s only a yellow card'.

"But he said, 'If you give me a second yellow, you would have been killed'.

"He was right. If I’d given the penalty, I would have been crucified, and he only got a yellow card, and that used to wind me up as a ref.

"Because you think, hold on, there should be more punishment for diving, because it’s the worst thing in football.

"You know what, because he was a winger, he was laughing.

"Because he was a winger, he was thinking I’m never going to get another f*****g second yellow card, because he’s stuck out on the wing."

* The full interview, on Paddy Power’s podcast 'From The Horse’s Mouth' is available at podfollow.com/horsesmouth

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