Clattenberg: I ​​want Greek referees in the derbies again – The presidents should not call the referees!

Mark Clattenberg for everyone and everything, but without making us… wiser!

The English chief referee spoke on the show Monday FC of NOVA and the Demi Nikolaidis for the situation in the Greek arbitration, emphasizing that wants the Greek referees to return to the derby, but in the right way, revealed why he stopped video reports, while he also commented on PAOK’s penalty in the game with OFI, Vouros’s hand, that is, saying that it is the referee’s mistake is clear!

Revealed even what he said to the group presidents to stop picking up… referees’ phones and to the latter do not pick up the phones!

In detail what he said:

For its responsibilities and objectives:

It was an interesting challenge. I had finished my course in China. When the opportunity came to Greece, it was a big challenge. Although I knew it would be a toxic environment, I wanted to help with his Premier League experience. It was difficult to train the referees because of Covid-19. I wanted to make referees professional. To be better controlled that way.

For his contacts with Big 4:

I’ve talked to all the presidents and not just the Big 4. Every week I try to make sure everyone has the same opportunities. We bring in foreign referees, but that was a decision before I came to Greece. I think all the owners wanted the arbitration to be as fair as possible. I want the Greek referees to return to the derby, but in the right way. It is normal to have complaints. They are everywhere. We all make mistakes, especially if the mistakes are human and not deceitful. I do my best in a difficult environment.

For arbitration in Greece:

I think when a team loses there are complaints. In Greece, the referee is always responsible, even when the teams lose fairly. If we look at this season and the previous ones, I do not see big scandals. In Europe they make bigger mistakes. I am always open to talking to presidents about complaints.

For his stay in relation to the Big 4:

I do not think it has to do with the Big 4. If the EPO, the government and all the teams think I’m doing a good job, they can offer me a new contract. I do not believe that the Big 4 has the right to decide on my future. If they want me to continue my project. I can not change everything in one night. I replaced some referees last season. I will do it again this year. If you continue to change the heads of KED, you will change plans. I want to put VAR in Super League 2. For me it is best for a foreign specialist to continue in the coming years. Greek referee to return when the confidence of the teams returns.

For his contacts with the EPO and the seminars:

I often meet the president of the EPO and we talk. Webinars are not the same, but we are constantly training the referees to manage the matches. I would have liked more meetings, but the pandemic created problems for us.

On whether the Greek referees are under pressure:

I do not think the referees are under pressure anymore. The message was clear from last year. Bad referees will not referee in the Super League. We have an evaluation board. The referees, who were not at the right level, were replaced. I will not tolerate mistakes. To the referees: If they perform at a high level they will get games. If not we will bring foreigners. We have very good Greek referees and we support them. I tell the presidents not to call the referees. It is not acceptable for them to do so. I tell the referees not to pick up their phones and concentrate on refereeing the matches fairly. Many times foreigners take the pressure away from the Greek referees in important matches.

Regarding the threats mentioned by Mr. Avgenakis that he accepted:

There are different aspects of threats. On my social media, I am attacked every week by team fans. When I was a referee I received such messages. There was a lot of publicity about my presence in a restaurant. I talked about these threats, to reduce them. The case is closed and we are moving forward.

For the reports and why they stopped, and when the hand is a penalty:

When I brought the video it was an opportunity for transparency. To show the communication and the sounds of the referees. To make the referees more professional. It was important to change the project. The educational part now was not so important. If the teams want to talk to me about decisions I can talk to them. The weekly videos I feel have lost their meaning. Now we want to do that for Super League 2.

The hand is one of the most subjective decisions. The decision does not make anyone happy. One of the criteria is whether the body grows. Also, the regulation changed manually. If the hand is above the head, it is a penalty. So you look for different criteria. There is this subjective element. If I cut the ball and move it by hand it is a violation. The VAR has all the moves and can make decisions. We have had cases where I do not consider to have been a hand-off lately.

For the hand of Kargas with PAOK after control with the foot, for the phase of Aris with Atromitos, but also the penalty in Vouros in PAOK-OFI:

The third video is wrong (s.s. means wrong decision for PAOK-OFI). I told the referees that they were wrong. That was wrong. It was a clear mistake of the referee and we conveyed this to him. For PAOK-Olympiacos it was a right decision (s.s. means the phase with Zampas’s hand not to be given a penalty).

For professional arbitration in Greece:

Some teams from lower positions fight with the bigger ones. We are not perfect. I want and we want to promote new referees. I want to give the opportunity to the Greek referees to return to the courts. If we bring professional arbitration to Greece and bring arbitration centrally to Athens, this will give the referees time to dedicate themselves to arbitration. I can not make them all happy. If a referee makes a mistake I will say so. I am honest. I made a lot of mistakes as a referee. As long as mistakes are human, we accept them. The hand in the match between PAOK and PAS (at this stage) we can not accept. The VAR can not make mistakes. I believe that the mistakes of the referees are less.

For the absence of Greek referees from major events:

I changed the list of referees for FIFA a bit. After 45-46 years you can not run races. We need time. Sidiropoulos was with me at the EURO in France. He was 4th with me in two matches. It is a matter of teaching experience and then it is a matter of quality. We need to improve.

Watch his interview: