Mark Clattenburg will referee Manchester United versus Manchester City in Saturday’s Premier League showdown.
Clattenburg during Euro 2016
After the international break, the Premier League gets back under way with the intense rivalry in Saturday’s 12.30pm kick-off, and Mark Clattenburg – regarded as one of the best referees in the world – has been given the unenviable task of keeping order.
The 41-year-old from County Durham has officiated the Champions League, FA Cup and Euro 2016 finals this year, and it is no surprise that such a heated match has been given to such an experienced official.
The 41-year-old is a top referee, no matter what is said about him
And yet, given the nature of refereeing elite sport, the announcement of Clattenburg has not been received well amongst fans of either clubs.
In spite of the fact that of the four Manchester derbies Clattenburg has overseen, City have won two of them with one draw and one win for United, he is viewed as a closet United fan by the City faithful.
Clattenburg showing a yellow card to a Manchester United player
It would be fair to say that almost nobody is happy, not that they’d be happy with the announcement of anyone to the role, except for perhaps their respective managers.
United fans aren’t exactly much more effusive in their praise of the man in the middle.
Who’d be a referee, eh? He does at least have one fan.
Well, this can only go well.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
