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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Chisanga Malata

Mark Clattenburg names the biggest diver in football he had "big problem" with

Mark Clattenburg has dealt with his fair share of divers over the years.

Many a player tried to dupe the former Premier League referee during his 17 seasons of officiating.

Some managed to get away with deceiving the 45-year-old, although that wouldn't be possible now following the introduction of VAR.

Clattenburg wasn't afraid to punish those who tried to gain an advantage by feigning contact or going to ground easily, appropriately disciplining them.

Mark Clattenburg officiated 576 matches over the course of 17 seasons (GETTY)

But who was the worst diver he came across during his career?

That accolade is a held by Stoke City and Republic of Ireland winger James McClean.

"I had a big problem and it wound me up once, with James McClean," Clattenburg told Paddy Power .

"He was playing for Wigan against QPR in a play-off. Obviously, a play-off is a huge game and they were winning 1-0.

"He went to go around Rob Green and I had a great position and I’ve seen him dive.

"As he went over, he’s looking for the penalty appeal for the penalty and I gave him the yellow card for diving.

"He just turned around to us and he said, ‘So what? I’m a winger. It’s only a yellow card. But he said, 'If you give me a second yellow, you would have been killed'.

"He was right. If I’d given the penalty, I would have been crucified and he only got a yellow card and that used to wind me up as a ref because you think, hold on, there should be more punishment for diving because it’s the worst thing in football.

James McClean is the worst diver Mark Clattenburg ever encountered (GETTY)

"You know what, because he was winger, he was laughing.

"Because he was a winger, he was thinking I’m never going to get another f*****g second yellow card, because he’s stuck out on the wing."

Mark Clattenburg was talking on Paddy Power’s podcast, From The Horse’s Mouth, which you can listen to at podfollow.com/horsesmouth

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