Referee Clattenburg on why he mocked Pepe in 2016 CL final

Real Madrid return to Milan, where they won the 2016 Champions League final, to face Inter Milan. Mark Clattenburg, the referee of that final, talked about one of the most talked about incidents from that day to 'From The Horse's Mouth' on 'Paddy Power'.

Towards the end of the game, Clattenburg stuck his tongue out and many interpreted it as him mocking Pepe, who stayed on the floor after a clash with Carrasco. 

The referee played down the gesture: "I remember that the game ended and everyone was talking about my tongue and not my refereeing. That was good. That was simply a reaction because my mouth was completely dry and it was a very hot day."

That said, he admitted it could be misinterpreted: "I think it fitted in perfectly with what was happening, with Pepe on the floor. I thought: 'God, what a soft guy rolling on the floor like that'. What I did was probably what everyone at home was thinking about the player."

Although he had a good match on the whole, the matched is remember for a mistake by his assistant referee which saw Ramos' goal early in the clash stand despite him being offisd.e

 

July 10, 2016