Mark Clattenburg revealed the unusual way he persuaded Jordan Henderson to stop abusing him during a match – by threatening to tell his mum.
Speaking on the Mail’s Whistleblowers podcast, the former Premier League referee described the incident during a debate over whether players should be sent off more often for swearing at referees.
He used the Henderson anecdote to argue that understanding individual psychology can be more effective than issuing red cards that could change the course of a match.
Clattenburg said: ‘Jordan’s from Sunderland and his mum and dad are from a village close to where my old house was.
‘I had known him for a few years. He had played for Sunderland – and I am a Newcastle fan – but I never held that against him.
‘This happened when he was playing for Liverpool. I had sent Jordan off the season prior in a match against Manchester City, which was a potential title decider.
‘He missed the rest of the season after that match. We had spoken about the sending off and Jordan admitted he’d deserved it.
Mark Clattenburg revealed the unusual way he persuaded Jordan Henderson to stop abusing him during a match – by threatening to tell his mum
Mark Clattenburg: ‘I had known Jordan for a few years. He had played for Sunderland – and I am a Newcastle fan – but I never held that against him.’ Listen here
Mark Clattenburg: ‘Jordan went white as a sheet and immediately shut up after that.’ Listen here
He used the Henderson anecdote to argue that understanding individual psychology can be more effective than issuing red cards that could change the course of a match
‘He told me that his mum had phoned him about it and had gone crazy. I knew then that he had a close relationship with his parents.
‘The following season, I was officiating at Bournemouth, it was against Liverpool. I gave a decision – a basic, bread and butter decision – and Jordan absolutely volleyed us.
‘It should have been a sending off. It was clear foul language, really hurtful and I should have given a red card.
‘I turned around and said to Jordan: I am going to tell your mother what you just said to me when I see her on the weekend.
‘Jordan went white as a sheet and immediately shut up after that. I remember thinking, I can’t believe that worked.’
‘The power of the mother’, co-host and Mail football editor Ian Ladyman joked.
Clattenburg went on to describe how players often agree with referees’ decisions after some time has passed, even when they had protested furiously in the moment.
The ex-elite official said: ‘It’s interesting because with lots of players, after you’ve sent them off, you think to yourself – they’re not going to talk to me again.
‘But then the next time you referee them they’ll say to you – I probably deserved that.
‘In the heat of battle, players are completely different animals. But when you see them the following week, they see it completely differently.’
For more stories from inside the beautiful game, search for Whistleblowers now, wherever you get your podcasts.
