Tottenham fans were not impressed by referee’s admission.
Tottenham Hotspur fans have been left unimpressed by Mark Clattenburg’s admission over the infamous ‘Battle of the Bridge’.
Clattenburg was in charge when Spurs drew 2-2 with Chelsea in 2016, a result which handed the title to Leicester City.
The match was memorable for the scenes late in the game which saw tempers fray, with Mousa Dembele picking up a bam which kept him out for the rest of the season.
Eric Dier in particular was fortunate not to be sent off, with both players remarkably ending the game with 10 men.
Ex-Premier League referee Clattenburg said he was aware he could have issued red cards, but kept players on deliberately in order to avoid the spotlight in such a big game.
Clattenburg told NBC’s Men in Blazers podcast: “I allowed them [Spurs] to self-destruct so all the media, all the people in the world went: ‘Tottenham lost the title.’
“If I sent three players off from Tottenham, what are the headlines? ‘Clattenburg cost Tottenham the title.’ It was pure theatre that Tottenham self-destructed against Chelsea and Leicester won the title.”
“I certainly benefited the game by my style of refereeing. Some referees would have played by the book; Tottenham would have been down to seven or eight players and probably lost and they would’ve been looking for an excuse.
“But I didn’t give them an excuse, because my gameplan was: Let them lose the title.”
Clattenburg’s comments have not gone down well with Spurs fans, who accused the referee of allowing the game to spiral out of control, as he was too concerned about his own reputation.
Here is a look at the reaction on Twitter to Clattenburg’s comments…
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