We’ve seen Mark Clattenburg on our TV screens literally hundreds of times over the years.
You’d imagine you’d know quite a bit about the veteran referee but, as it turns out, you might not know the first thing about Clattenburg.
Clattenburg stepped away from the Premier League last season to take up a position as Saudi Arabia’s Head of Refereeing.
This looked very harsh https://t.co/e31E3cxF4N
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) March 16, 2017
And he’s earned a shiny new television gig too.
Clattenburg appeared on BT Sport on Sunday, when he was tasked with offering up his refereeing expertise for the in-studio panel during the Community Shield game between Premier League champions Chelsea and FA Cup holders Arsenal.
The match had plenty of talking points for Clattenburg to cast his eye over, including an incident which saw Willian booked for simulation when subsequent viewing suggested there was slight contact.
"There is some contact."
🎤 @clattenburg1975 thinks despite contact, referee Robert Madley was right not to award Chelsea a penalty. pic.twitter.com/FPgPLl2E8e
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 6, 2017
Viewers, accustomed to seeing Howard Webb in front of several screens, were surprised to see Clattenburg in Webb’s seat, giving his opinion.
And they were even more shocked when he opened his mouth and a Geordie accent came out.
Most supporters hadn’t seen Clattenburg give an interview before so were astounded to hear what he actually sounded like.
Not only that, but the tone of his voice did not exactly feature the booming authority that fans might have expected.
I did not picture Mark Clattenburg with that voice
— Mark Kilgallon (@mrmarkkilgallon) August 6, 2017
I expected Mark Clattenburg, one of the best referees we've had in this country, to have a much more asserting voice.
— Lee Price (@PricelessGooner) August 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/CusackOscar/status/894198423800479744
Mark Clattenburg has the voice of a 60 year old Geordie housewife #CommunityShield
— Mark O'Meara (@mark_omeara89) August 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/rossbramble/status/894196347993247747
For some reason I was really suprised by Mark Clattenburg's voice. Expected it to be a lot deeper. No idea why. #ARSvsCHE
— Rob Atkinson (@LincolnRamirez) August 6, 2017
Hasn't Mark Clattenburg got an odd voice?! Didn't expect him to sound like that.
— Benji Taylor (@mrbenjitaylor) August 6, 2017
Mark Clattenburg's accent pic.twitter.com/5r1pPneqCP
— Raj Chohan (@rajsinghchohan) August 6, 2017
Didn't expect Mark Clattenburg to sound like that… #CommunityShield #Btsport pic.twitter.com/NELftdP0Pi
— James Allison (@GiNgEr_JaMeS) August 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/Jackarmes/status/894196316628287488
I don't know what I was expecting Mark Clattenburg to sound like, but it was nothing like that.
— Sam Tighe (@stighefootball) August 6, 2017
