I’m an ex-Premier League ref, I was so scared of Roy Keane I gave a corner when he screamed – I’m sure it was a goalkick

FORMER Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has admitted to being so scared of Roy Keane that he gave the player a corner because the Manchester United hardman screamed at him.

In a quote that his resurfaced from a 2017 Men In Blazers Podcast interview, Clattenburg admitted that his then inexperience as a referee influenced his decision-making.

Clattenburg admitted his fear of Roy Keane caused him to give a corner instead of a free-kickNews Group Newspapers Ltd

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He was intimidated by Keane’s signature scream[/caption]

Speaking to Michael Davies and Roger Bennett, Clattenburg said: “Even in the Premier League, I still smile at the first time I came across Roy Keane.

“He screamed at us for a corner and I’m sure it was a goal kick but because he screamed at us so loudly, I gave a corner. I was that petrified of him.”

Roy Keane was renowned for his hardman persona when playing for Sir Alex Ferguson‘s Manchester United, with the player recording seven red cards and 69 yellows across his Premier League career.

It’s something that Keane has carried over into his punditry work, with his curmudgeonly nature often leading to on-screen rants.

It was in the same podcast that Clattenburg opened up about how he had allowed Tottenham to “self-destruct” during their infamous “Battle of the Bridge” game against Chelsea.

Spurs needed to win the game to stay in the title race with Leicester – and led 2-0 at half-time.

But after being drawn into several physical altercations with Chelsea players, Spurs ultimately surrendered their 2-0 lead and drew the game 2-2.

The draw left it mathematically impossible for Spurs to win the 2015-16 Premier League title.

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Mark Clattenburg admitted to letting Spurs lose their heads during the ‘Battle of the Bridge’[/caption]

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On the game, which saw Clattenburg award Spurs a staggering nine yellow cards, the former referee said: “I allowed them to self-destruct so all the media, all the people in the world could go: ‘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.

“Some referees would have played by the book, Tottenham would have been down to seven or eight players 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’.”

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