Soccer referee Mark Clattenburg loves the game and is a big Newcastle United and English fan

ONE of the world’s best soccer officials, Mark Clattenburg, is in Melbourne and says he has no issue declaring he’s a fan first and foremost.

(FILES) A file picture taken on October 28, 2012, shows referee Mark Clattenburg putting away his red card during a match between Manchester United and Chelsea in London. British police said Tuesday November 13, 2012, they had no plans to continue enquiries into a complaint regarding alleged racist comments by referee Mark Clattenburg towards a Chelsea player because no victim had come forward. The Society of Black Lawyers reported Clattenburg to London's Metropolitan Police after Chelsea complained to the Football Association the referee used a term understood to have been interpreted as racist towards John Obi Mikel during the 3-2 Premier League defeat by Manchester United on October 28. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS/FILES RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 45 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS.

REFEREES, umpires, of any sport are fans of the game too, we’ve got to remember that.

But while some are trusted to park their allegiances to one side, temptation is removed from the equation for others.

Mark Clattenburg in action during an English Premier League match. Picture: AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

One of the world’s best soccer officials, Mark Clattenburg, is in town for the International Champions Cup.

A mad Newcastle United fan, Clattenburg told The Score he’s unable to officiate Magpies matches — unlike in the AFL, where umps can take control of any game, regardless of which club they support.

“I’ve done Newcastle friendly matches and charity matches or testimonials — I think most people know I’m a Newcastle fan, so Alan Shearer, for instance, asked me to referee his testimonial match,” Clattenburg said.

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“To have the opportunity to go out on to St James’ Park (Newcastle’s home ground), it was a boyhood dream.

“But Premier League matches, because you have to declare your interest in any club, I can’t do Newcastle matches and my brother is a Sunderland season ticket holder, so that means I can’t do Sunderland matches either — but because they’re our local rivals, I wouldn’t want to do their games anyway.”

Clattenburg sets himself goals at the start of each season.

Last season it was to referee at the pointy end of the UEFA Champions League, which he did, officiating the second leg of the semi-final between Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

This season, aside from making it to Euro 2016, it is to officiate his first FA Cup final.

But asked which he would prefer, to referee the Wembley showpiece game or see Newcastle make it, Clattenburg was emphatic.

“I’d rather see Newcastle in it,” he said.

“But I’m a realist — and I’ve been to many semi-finals and finals as a fan — the way Newcastle are at the moment, a club in transition, I can’t see them making it.

“Fingers crossed though, you never know, with a bit of luck and if they get the right draw they might make the semi or the final, and that wouldn’t disappoint me as a referee, having to miss out.

“It would be the same for England and the European Championship, if England make it.

“Yes that would mean I would have to go home, because I can’t do England games, but if they made the final I wouldn’t be a sad man because I would want to go as a fan.”

Originally published as Soccer referee Mark Clattenburg loves the game and is a big Newcastle United and English fan