• Football

Clattenburg 'not up to standard'

ESPN staff
May 2, 2014
Mark Clattenburg has been involved in several high-profile incidents © Getty Images
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Mark Clattenburg's attitude and refereeing ability has come under attack from Juventus coach Antonio Conte.

His team were beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Benfica after a 0-0 second-leg draw in Turin and went out of the Europa League with the Premier League official branded not up to the "required standard".

"I didn't appreciate either the attitude of our opponents or the referee," Conte said. "UEFA should show us more respect by sending a referee of the required standard."

"There should have been a penalty," he said after a Fernando Llorente header appeared to hit Luisao's hand. "The referee allowed them to obstruct the play the whole game. Before the game he told is us that he wouldn't stop play every time a player hit the floor, but that's what happened. We feel like we're not being taken seriously."

It is not the first time the approach of Clattenburg, who was appointed as a FIFA referee in 2006, has been criticised this season.

Southampton made a complaint about him in January, accusing him of insulting their captain Adam Lallana, with the referee allegedly saying: "You are very different now, since you've played for England - you never used to be like this."

The Professional Game Match Officials dismissed Southampton's complaints by saying Clattenburg had no case to answer, while the FA released a statement saying the case had been closed.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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