Clattenburg to Saudi Arabia

But it was announced he would work the remainder of the season in England, per his contract. Nothing was ever said about him working in Europe and, in fact, his absence from the Winter Course in Malaga technically was supposed to mean he was ineligible to work the rest of the UEFA season. So this is big news. Does this mean we will see Clattenburg in the UCL quarters or semis?

For Collina to show he's willing to use Clattenburg after his "retirement" sends an interesting signal... if Collina still wants Clattenburg in Russia for 2018, that potentially puts the FA in a very awkward position where they either have to renominate him for FIFA status in 2018 despite not being an active ref in their domestic league (and incur the wrath, I'm sure, of most referees in England) or not have a referee at the World Cup for the first time ever (since England joined FIFA) if Oliver is not considered ready and Atkinson is considered too old.

 

Undoubtedly. But if UEFA sends 9 or 10 referees, as expected, Oliver would have to jump over several referees who regularly work UCL knockout matches, while he's never been at that stage. Politically, it could appease England, but it would cause problems with other UEFA members.

 

They are confederation based, but the politics of pleasing certain national federations has been a reality for a long time. That being said, France didn't get a referee at 2014 for the first time ever, I believe. So Collina and others aren't afraid to rock the boat now. That's what must be scary for England. If this was 2002, I guarantee Oliver would be going (since Atkinson would officially be too old). Today? I think all bets are off.

 

Fascinating.

I have little doubt that Collina wants to use Clattenburg in Russia next year and this is a pretty big signal. He's also used him in an EL match since the announcement of the move. It puts the FA in an awkward spot, as I said--will they make him a FIFA from England for 2018? Do they need to do so?

Separately, I noticed Marrufo was at this seminar as well, while he hasn't been on the pre-selected list for the World Cup (as he was for 2010 and 2014). My understanding is that he could get tied to Geiger as his VAR, which would be pretty interesting.

Judging from the growing list of referees, the fact that VAR is prominently featuring in the prep sessions, and the comments from Elleray on the recent IFAB video (about how a final decision could be taken in 2019 now), it seems like a foregone conclusion that VAR is going to be at the 2018 World Cup. And that means a total reworking/expansion of who the WC referee candidates are and who the VAR candidates will be. Geiger-Marrufo is one thing. What about England now? Is Oliver going to be Clattenburg's VAR? Will FIFA tie VARs to CRs in every instance, to make a quad group of officials (rather than a trio)? Or will VARs be more roaming, like reserve officials?

 

Agree with this. There are so many angles here.

I would think there's something missing from the reporting. If Collina were truly pressuring Riley and the PGMOL over Clattenburg's return this season, then surely he'd be applying the same pressure to make him available next season, too, right? Because that's what's actually important. If he's not working in the fall of 2017 in England, then he's not supposed to be working in the UCL for 2017-18 and he's not supposed to be on the FIFA list for 2018 and that's what matters. Unless Collina is willing to take him without a FIFA badge or create another way to give him a FIFA badge? And if he's willing to do that, the question then becomes, like you said, whether or not he's also willing to send Clattenburg to the World Cup with essentially full year off from competitive soccer (aside from whatever games he works in Saudi Arabia).

Clattenburg is great, but I really don't like the precedent this would establish and the process that would need to occur to get him to Russia. No referee should be above the established system because it draws too much attention to them and it potentially creates ill will with colleagues. The Mail article makes a good point about clubs in England not wanting the "sideshow" that might accompany Clattenburg's last game. When we're talking about a sideshow because of a referee, then something is out of whack. Will any team want the "sideshow" of Clattenburg doing their match in Russia if he's there under special circumstances and with a special dispensation? He made a choice and I think he should have to accept the accompanying consequences.

 

I see what you're saying @SouthRef. And I agree you want the best referees on the most important games. By that standard, Clattenburg should be in Russia next year.

But the problem is he will be a special exception if that occurs, which leads to the ill will and the political issues that you referenced---except they'll be at the FIFA-level, rather than domestically. The restrictions that are currently in place, about working in your own domestic league, may not be good for some referees (while it's certainly good for others). But unless and until those restrictions are completely lifted, I just find it unfair to ignore them for one referee, particularly when there is so much media attention on that single referee.

Also, I'd quibble with the argument that the restrictions on referees don't serve the game, because it depends on how you're looking at service to the game. Take a guy like Mazic, for example. If he flees Serbia to go work the Premier League, how does that help development of referees in Serbia where he has so much knowledge/experience and he's bringing 5 guys with him to every UEFA appointment? Same could be said, as much as I personally don't regard him, of Irmatov and Uzbekistan. Skomina in Slovenia is another. If you lifted all the rules and let the best referees move freely--either to the top leagues or the most lucrative ones--you will hurt referee development and the quality of officiating in those top domestic leagues. Robbing Peter to pay Paul.