RateTheRef

There is a longish article in today's Times about Clattenburg's forthcoming autobiography 'Whistle Blower' (  a title about which he has sought no proprietary
permission from me )  Of course one would need to read the book in order to pass proper judgement but the flavour of today's article confirms my long held impression that Clattenburg is an egotistical character with little grace about him.  He is quite open in his disregard, contempt even, for some senior figures in national and international refereeing. Naturally he is most complimentary about Collina, whose patronage he enjoyed greatly.

The article states that the severest and often most snide criticism of senior referees comes from the cohort of referees themselves. I have to say the article paints a rather shabby picture of the whole business. Whether it is actually true or just Clattenburg's rather unrestrained publicity to sell his book, I could not say.

Come come Dublin Ref, let's get it right!

Are we talking about Reilly or Riley?

Paddy (Ballyjamesduff)

Just a little reminder to anyone commenting on this thread, we are 'rate  the ref' and as such posts speculating on ANYBODY'S personality or character are not welcome, by all means you can chat about the merits of individual officials and your personal opinion on their ability is welcome but any labeling of of someone's personality will be removed and appropriate action taken against the poster.

I fear I may have transgressed rule by my opening post and, if I have, I apologise and do feel free to remove it.

The grey area comes though in that so much actual practice of refereeing is intimately bound up with a referee's style and that style is an expression of personality. My initial comments were not, I believe, mere speculation but a comment on direct quotes from Clattenburg himself ( who incidentally would certainly have failed the RTR test in his comments on Elleray, Riley and Atkinson ) published in a public forum. On reflection it would be better to say that his comments were egotistical and graceless, which they certainly were, and then leave it at that.

If I too have transgressed then I apologise unreservedly.

For information, my comments were based on experience of the aforementioned referee a number of years ago and various published articles over the years

When he finished refereeing he was rightly known as one of the greatest referees this country has ever produced. I don't understand why he's so willing to dismantle his reputation - the bits of the book I've seen seem well beneath someone who rose to the level that he did.

Why do you think he has dropped himself in it by saying what has been quoted?

I don't think I will; I just didn't find him interesting enough. However, if the tome receives rave reviews on RTR then I might be persuaded.

I wait, probably in futile longing, for Joe Worrall's autobiography which I most certainly would purchase. One of the virtues I most cherish in people is modesty and that is a virtue which does not always sit very easily with the writing of an apologia pro vita sua.

Did George Courtney ever publish an autobiography? That is also one I would very much like to read.

Read the first chapter and already I'm hooked.