Mark Clattenburg Slams Sunderland’s Win Over Newcastle: A Derby Decided by Controversy, Not Quality
Few fixtures in English football carry the raw emotion of the Tyne-Wear derby, but Sunderland’s recent victory over Newcastle will be remembered less for passion and more for controversy. Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg did not hold back in his assessment, delivering a scathing verdict on a match he believes was shaped by poor officiating rather than footballing excellence.
According to Clattenburg, the game was a textbook example of how refereeing decisions can distort the narrative of a derby. “When officials become the main talking point after a match like this, something has gone wrong,” he argued. In his view, Sunderland benefited from a series of marginal — and in some cases outright incorrect — calls that consistently went against Newcastle, swinging momentum and ultimately the result.
The flashpoint, Clattenburg suggested, came midway through the first half with a challenge in the penalty area that Newcastle felt warranted a spot-kick. The referee waved play on, and VAR — much to the fury of the away supporters — declined to intervene. “By today’s standards, that’s a penalty,” Clattenburg said. “There is clear contact, no attempt to play the ball, and it directly impedes the attacker. If that happens anywhere else on the pitch, it’s a foul. The laws shouldn’t change because it’s a derby.”
Sunderland, buoyed by that decision, grew in confidence and capitalised soon after. While Clattenburg was quick to credit their intensity and work rate, he insisted the psychological swing caused by the officiating was decisive. “Derbies are emotional games. One big call can lift one team and crush the other. Newcastle never recovered from that moment.”
He was equally critical of Sunderland’s winning goal, pointing to what he felt was a missed foul in the build-up. “It’s subtle, but it’s there,” he explained. “A push in the back, just enough to unbalance the defender. Officials are told to look for these actions, especially in the modern game. Ignoring it undermines consistency.”
Clattenburg reserved particular frustration for VAR, a system he once defended but now believes is failing in matches of this magnitude. “VAR was introduced to correct clear and obvious errors,” he said. “In this match, it either wasn’t brave enough or wasn’t competent enough to step in. That’s unacceptable.”
Despite his criticism, Clattenburg was careful not to accuse officials of bias. Instead, he framed the issue as one of standards. “This isn’t about favouring Sunderland or hurting Newcastle. It’s about applying the laws of the game properly. Fans deserve better, especially in a derby that means so much to both clubs.”
Sunderland will celebrate the win — and rightly so — but Clattenburg’s verdict lingers uncomfortably. When the dust settles, this derby may be remembered not as a glorious victory, but as a reminder that football matches should be decided by players, not referees.
