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      He’s putting on a Scottish accent, fans cry as ex-Prem referee Mark Clattenburg stars in Gladiators reboot

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      FANS have accused former Prem League referee Mark Clattenburg of putting on a Scottish accent as he took to the Gladiators ring. The popular BBC show returned to TV screens for the first time in more than two decades with a brand new squad.
      Fans were left stunned to see the new line-up of refereesCredit: BBC
      Former referee Mark Clattenburg took on the stage for the first episodeCredit: BBC
      The classic show was back on BBC One on January 13 with a stellar line-up of athletes and sports stars.
      Bradley Walsh and his son Barney are the new hosts.
      The series originally aired on ITV from 1992 to 2000, and was presented by Ulrika Johnsson.
      But this new reboot left fans stunned after former referee Mark Clattenburg took on the stage for the first episode.

      The former Premier League, 48, refereed the Champion’s League cup final and Euro 2016 final.
      But on tonight’s episode Clattenburg shocked the nation after stepping in to take over from the famous Scottish voice of John Anderson.
      During the one-hour episode, Clattenburg said the show’s famous line: “Contestants, ready? Gladiators, ready?”
      After the show, fans rushed to social media to comment on the former football referee seen blowing the iconic whistle.
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      One user said: “Mark Clattenburg is definitely putting on a Scottish accent.”
      Some questioned if the former professional referee – who comes from the North East – was in fact Scottish.
      Another added: “I see former football ref Mark Clattenburg is attempting a Scottish accent to sound like John Anderson.”
      Others were so shocked to see the former referee they slammed he was after “some cash”.
      One wrote: “Mark Clattenburg must be desperate for some cash to go on Gladiators.”
      Another said: “Mark Clattenburg refereeing on Gladiators I don’t know why I’m shocked he always loved the camera.”
      A third said: “I hope there is no VAR too! I never imagined I’d be seeing Mark Clattenburg refereeing.”
      However, some fans were less impressed, with one writing: “Mark Clattenburg is the ‘Gladiator’s ready’ referee on the new series of Gladiators. Another reason not to watch it.”
      Before the long-waited episode, Clattenburg said that landing the Gladiators gig was “one of the most amazing things I will do in my life”.
      He also praised the show’s original referee John Anderson as “legendary” and said taking over the whistle “is such an honour”.
      It comes as a Gladiators contestant was rushed to medics after suffering an horror knee injury as he’s left fighting back tears.
      Contestant Finley took on his next challenge called the Gauntlet.
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      It required the contenders to get to the end of the Gauntlet in just 30 seconds – while there were four zones each protected by a Gladiator.
      But things took a nasty turn when Finley injured his knee during the intense game.
      Gladiators has returned after decades off airCredit: BBC
      Mark Clattenburg refereed the Champion’s League cup final and Euro 2016 finalCredit: Getty More

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      ‘World’s hottest referee’ wows fans with sexy bikini snaps as she tries stand-up paddleboarding on Thailand holiday

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      THE “world’s hottest referee” has left her followers stunned with her latest holiday snaps.The beautiful Karolina Bojar-Stefanska officiates in the Ekstraliga, the top tier of the women’s game in her homeland of Poland.
      The ‘world’s hottest referee’ has stunned fans with her latest holiday snapsCredit: INSTAGRAM @bojarmeow
      The gorgeous Karolina Bojar-Stefanska has been enjoying a holiday in ThailandCredit: INSTAGRAM @bojarmeow
      The Polish official tried her hand at paddleboardingCredit: INSTAGRAM @bojarmeow
      She shared a number of photos from her trip to Koh Lipe IslandCredit: INSTAGRAM @bojarmeow
      The 26-year-old hit the headlines when she married fellow Polish ref Daniel Stefanski.
      Fifa-listed Stefanski, 45, is a regular in the middle in the men’s top-flight in their home country.
      He and Karolina tied the knot in October 2020 and even got the chance to officiate together just over a year ago.
      That occurred at an event in the Polish city of Gliwice and the beautiful Karolina shared photos from that occasion with her 164,000 Instagram followers.
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      Away from the pitch, Karolina has wowed fans with a number of holiday shots of herself travelling the globe.
      Pictures from her adventures to both Greece and the Maldives have previously been shared by her on social media.
      Now the gorgeous whistler shared a photo dump from her latest exploits in Thailand.
      And she left little to the imagination with her kit.
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      The first snap showed her in a tiny black bikini holding a paddle board on the beach, and that was followed up by her standing upright on it out on the sea.
      Karolina, who had tagged herself in Koh Lipe Island, then finished her post with a shot of her in action on it, captioning the trio of pictures with the message: “My first time on a SUP.”
      And it did not take very long with her legion of admirers to jump into the comments.
      “Wow” and “incredible” were two of the most popular and regular compliments she received.
      Another declared that she was a “super beautiful girl”.
      A fourth simply called her “wonderful” as a fellow admirer declared: “I have a crush on you. I love you.”
      Karolina Bojar-Stefanska is married to fellow official Daniel StefanskiCredit: Instagram
      Karolina officiates in the women’s top-flight in her homelandCredit: Instagram @bojarmeow
      She regularly wows her followers with the photos from her travelsCredit: INSTAGRAM @bojarmeow More

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      PMGOL accused of snubbing female ref and acting ‘like a Mayfair Gentleman’s club’ by former referees boss Keith Hackett

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      KEITH HACKETT has launched a blistering attack on the PGMOL, accusing the referees’ body of operating “like a Mayfair Gentleman’s Club”.Former top ref Hackett, 79, is fuming Rebecca Welch has been snubbed since becoming the first woman to referee a Prem match last month.
      Rebecca Welch has only refereed one Premier League matchCredit: Alamy
      Keith Hackett has slammed PGMOLCredit: Getty
      She received rave reviews from fans and pundits after being in charge of Fulham’s 2-0 defeat to Burnley at Craven Cottage on December 23.
      Her appointment coincided with a period of improved diversity within the PGMOL under chief Howard Webb’s reign.
      But the 40-year-old has not been named for any top-flight games since and is also missing from the latest match-list of Prem appointments up to January 22.
      And ex-PGMOL boss Hackett let rip at Webb and Co, blasting: “A £26million pound business run by a bunch of amateurs who operate like a Mayfair Gentleman’s Club.
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      “Job for the boys – when is Rebecca Welch going to be appointed to her next Premier League game?
      “Was it to look good from a PGMOL PR point of view. She officiated well.”
      Three days later Sam Allison became the first black referee to take charge of a Prem match in 15 years – Sheffield United’s game against Luton.
      FA chiefs have set targets of increasing the diversity of match officials across the footballing pyramid and want an increase of 1,000 women refs and 1,000 black or Asian officials at all levels in three years.
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      But ex-firefighter Allison, 42, has also not had another top-flight appointment since.
      Hackett’s blast comes after a catalogue of high-profile ref and VAR blunders this season – the latest being Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s “crazy” red card in the FA Cup draw with Crystal Palace which was overturned by the FA on Tuesday.
      The PGMOL declined to comment, but it is understood that, as Welch and Allison are Championship refs, it would be unusual for either of them to receive another top-flight appointment so soon, especially as the Championship has a full programme, while the Prem is on a staggered winter break.
      However, it is expected they will be appointed to other top-flight games later this season. More

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      Referee forced to contact VAR room by MOBILE PHONE to confirm goal mid-game after bizarre tech issue

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      VAR issues during a Serie A match forced officials to confirm a goal via mobile phone.Referee Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi briefly interrupted Frosinone’s clash with Monza for an unknown reason, an interval which allowed players to rehydrate.
      The Serie A match between Frosinone and Monza was blighted by VAR communication issuesCredit: Rex
      Referee Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi had to halt the match in the first half due to the VAR dramaCredit: REX
      She awarded Monza their second goal of the match after the fourth official received a phone call from VAR officialsCredit: Rex
      Play resumed after a few minutes, although many were left wondering the reason for the impromptu stoppage.
      It soon became apparent the issue was VAR-related after Monza doubled their lead in the 45th minute.
      A problem in the VAR room initially prevented the use of slow-motion replay.
      The on-the-field officials were also unable to communicate with their VAR counterparts – meaning one of the VAR team had to ring the fourth official and tell the ref that the goal was fine.
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      The technical problems continued in the second half of the match.
      So much so that the stadium announcer went on the tannoy to announce that they were operating without any VAR.
      The issue was eventually resolved and the announcer promptly informed fans that the technology was once again back in use.
      Monza ran out 3-2 winners at the Stadio Benito Stirpe to further Frosinone’s relegation fears.
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      Monza rant out 3-2 winners against relegration battlers FrosinoneCredit: REX
      Strikes from Dany Mota, Valentin Carboni and an own goal by Matias Soule saw the Biancorossi pick up all three points.
      Frosinone are now only five points clear of the drop zone, although they have played a game more than 19th and 20th-placed Empoli and Salernitana.
      Monza will be back in action next Saturday, welcoming table toppers Inter Milan to the Brianteo Stadium.
      Frosinone, meanwhile, travel to the Allianz Stadium on Thursday to take on Juventus in the quarter-final of the Coppa Italia. More

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      Dave Kidd: VAR does NOT need to be reformed, it should be SCRAPPED… and Calvert-Lewin red was the breaking point

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      DCL, VAR, WTF! Sometimes one single incident is so absurd that it has the capacity to bring down an entire house of cards.And when Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was handed a straight red card in Thursday’s FA Cup third-round clash with Crystal Palace, VAR might just have reached its breaking point.
      Dominic Calvert-Lewin was sent off by VAR for this challenge on ThursdayCredit: Getty
      Referee Chris Kavanagh was showed slow-motion footage when called over the the VAR screenCredit: AFP
      Calvert-Lewin executed an excellent tackle on Palace’s Nathaniel Clyne, top-flight referee Chris Kavanagh correctly judged that the challenge was not even a foul and yet, 30 seconds later, he was sent to his monitor and advised to dismiss the England forward.
      There was no ‘excessive force’ in the challenge, Calvert-Lewin was not ‘endangering an opponent’ and he actually won the ball with a neat piece of skill close to the Palace box.
      Yet not just one but TWO Premier League referees, in the VAR hub at Stockley Park, decided Kavanagh had made a ‘clear and obvious error’.
      Then the on-field ref — provoked by slow-motion replays — failed to trust his own judgment and refused to uphold his original decision.
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      To add to this farce, VAR is in operation for FA Cup matches played at Premier League stadiums and not for those hosted by EFL clubs.
      Yet for those games staged at top-flight clubs, such as Palace, ‘support VARs’ have also been appointed, meaning VAR Craig Pawson was assisted by Michael Salisbury.
      This undermines the often-stated lie by VAR cheerleaders that ‘it is not the technology but the personnel’ which is to blame for the system’s disastrous application.
      Because the fact is that the more human beings that are involved in any decision, the greater the capacity for human error.
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      VAR must now be scrapped, says Dave KiddCredit: Reuters

      Too many cooks spoil the broth. Too many referees spoil a football match. Now Palace v Everton was a stinker, which ended 0-0 despite Sean Dyche’s side being reduced to ten men.
      And presumably Calvert-Lewin’s three-match ban for a straight red will be rescinded on appeal.
      But while minimal harm was done, this was the clearest possible case of VAR not just failing to improve decision-making but making it actively worse.
      The Luis Diaz offside decision which sentenced Liverpool to their only Premier League defeat of the season at Tottenham in October was more damaging and more ridiculous.
      Too many cooks spoil the broth. Too many referees spoil a football match. Dave Kidd
      But that was a catastrophic one-off failure of process from VAR Darren England, which led to an incorrect on-field decision being upheld.
      The Calvert-Lewin incident was a glaring example of how slow-motion replays persuade highly experienced referees to disbelieve their own eyes.
      And of how the procedure of a VAR sending a referee to his monitor is a charade, given that 99 per cent of the time, this leads to an on-field official overturning his decision.
      Perhaps the Calvert-Lewin incident will lessen, or even end, the use of slo-mo replays.
      But what we really need is for pundits and prominent journalists to stop parroting the phrase ‘VAR will never be scrapped’.
      These are invariably people who never pay to attend matches and fail to fully comprehend how VAR interferes with the joyful spontaneity of football — a sport in which so many refereeing decisions are subjective, meaning the idea of absolute justice will always be impossible.
      Why can’t VAR be scrapped?
      And how is it helpful to keep saying ‘VAR will never be scrapped’, when most people want it scrapped and it absolutely could be scrapped.
      Arguing against technology does not automatically make you a member of the Flat Earth Society howling at the moon.Dave Kidd
      This is an extension of a dangerous ‘computer says no’ culture.
      Just watch ITV1’s brilliant drama Mr Bates v The Post Office to understand the extraordinary scale of human misery caused by a faulty computer system — and by the inability of apparently sensible people to believe that technology can possibly be wrong.
      Likewise, try to get some common sense out of Barclays Bank over their draconian mortgage policies.
      Organisations like the Post Office and Barclays destroy people’s lives by following a ‘computer says no’ mantra.
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      VAR only destroys football matches. But the principle is the same.
      Until we realise that arguing against technology does not automatically make you a member of the Flat Earth Society howling at the moon, then we will never reach the blindingly obvious conclusion that VAR does not need to be reformed, it must be scrapped. More

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      Sean Dyche loses it during press conference and breaks down what is wrong with VAR after shocking Calvert-Lewin red card

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      SEAN DYCHE admitted VAR is beginning to “test his patience” as he raged at referees consulting the pitchside monitor before making decisions.Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was controversially sent off during the Toffees’ goalless draw with Crystal Palace in the FA Cup third round on Thursday night.
      Sean Dyche raged at VAR during his post-match press conference on ThursdayCredit: BBC SPORT
      He does not understand decisions being made by officialsCredit: BBC SPORT
      Dominic Calvert-Lewin was sent off for this tackle during Everton’s draw with Crystal PalaceCredit: Getty
      The attacker, 26, appeared to beat Nathaniel Clyne to the ball and cleanly bring it away with a sliding challenge.
      But referee Chris Kavanagh was instructed to go to the monitor on the touchline, before he then dismissed Calvert-Lewin after watching several replays.
      And Dyche was critical of referees having to go to the monitor as it almost always leads to the official changing their original decision.
      Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Everton boss said: “I have no clue what that’s there for.
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      “I hope I’m not just speaking for myself but every fan must go, ‘what is the point?’, because we all know the outcome which is that they agree with everything that they’re told, unless someone can tell me 10 incidents that aren’t.
      “I don’t know what the stats are but the chances of something getting turned over are minuscule, so don’t bother.
      “Let’s just get on with it, afterwards we might debate it but what’s the point in doing it there and then unless you change it?
      “We’ve had all sorts already by the way. VAR moments where you go, ‘how is that?’ You explain it afterwards but where does it live?
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      “(Anthony) Martial at home to us, a penalty, you can clearly see his legs collapsing before there is any contact but then they go ‘yeah, but there was a contact’. If you slow down everything, you’re going to find what you’re looking for.
      “I’m a fan of VAR but I just don’t get all this delaying and looking at the screen for a minuscule chance they’ll turn it over.”
      Dyche also went on to question who is in charge of any single game given both the on-field referee and the VAR are consulting one another about various calls.
      He added: “VAR seems a bit confused at the moment.
      “We’re unsure, we’ve had a number this season where I don’t know who is refereeing and while I am a fan, I think it needs tidying up and for whatever reason I thought it was getting tidied up but it seems to have stepped back a little bit.
      “I remain a fan at this stage but it is beginning to test my patience. Apart from the offsides that are obvious, what’s got a chance now of being let play and what’s got a chance of getting called back? We don’t actually know.
      “We just keep our fingers crossed and hope that we get on the right side of it and we generally haven’t.”
      Dyche refused to confirm one way or another whether Everton will appeal the Calvert-Lewin sending off.
      If the decision is upheld, he will miss the replay with Palace at Goodison Park, along with Premier League games against Aston Villa and Fulham.
      Dyche said: “We’ll wait and see. I’ll double-check the process but in the end it’s one of those risk and reward things, is it worth it or not worth it?
      Read more on The Sun
      “I don’t think anyone even knows what’s going to happen with these decisions now. Certainly tonight it was one where I didn’t know and then after seeing it I went, ‘where does that live?’
      “We’ll see, we’ll analyse it and get an outside view and then we’ll decide.” More

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      National League clash SUSPENDED and player rushed to hospital after colliding with advertising board

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      THIS afternoon’s National League clash between AFC Fylde and Rochdale was suspended for 15 minutes after a horror head injury.The two sides were taken off the pitch by the referee after a serious head injury was sustained by Rochdale player Jesurun Uchegbulam.
      AFC Fylde’s clash with Rochdale was momentarily suspendedCredit: Getty
      The 22-year-old collided with the advertising board at Mill Farm which led to the winger requiring medical attention.
      Fans inside the ground were told by the stadium announcer that the clubs were awaiting an ambulance for Uchegbulam after play was halted.
      Although the game was not immediately stopped after the referee allowed play to continue for a period of time while Uchegbulam received treatment in the stands.
      Once the severity of the incident was apparent the referee then paused the game for around 15 minutes.
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      Rochdale’s official X account posted that Uchegbulam had been taken away from the pitch on a stretcher after a period of medical attention.
      Their post read: “Uchegbulam has been carried away on a stretcher to a standing ovation inside Mill Farm.
      “The players will now have a brief warm-up period before play gets back underway. Everything crossed for you, Jes.”
      While AFC Fylde also posted on social media wishing the best for their opposition’s injured player.
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      The official X account wrote: “We’d like to send our best wishes to Jesurun Uchegbulam and the whole of the Rochdale squad following Jesurun’s injury this afternoon.
      “Some things are more important than football.”
      The match later got back underway with the stoppage seeing the officials adding on a minimum of 20 minutes of added time.
      The game ended in a 2-0 victory for Fylde, but the result will be the last thing on most fans’ minds as they send their wishes to Uchegbulam.
      Other supporters were left frustrated as they felt that the game should not have been allowed to carry on while the Rochdale forward was in such a serious condition.
      One wrote on social media: “Appalling that the ref played on with both teams medical teams having to work on Jes. Should have stopped the game immediately. Dangerous.”
      Rochdale have now confirmed that Uchegbulam is in a stable condition following the horrible incident and is on his way to hospital.
      In another social media statement, they wrote: “We can confirm that Jesurun Uchegbulam is in a stable condition and is currently on his way to hospital.
      “We’ll bring you a further update on his condition in due course. We’re all with you, Jes.” More

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      Thierry Henry calls for major change to football as Arsenal hit by big VAR controversy in West Ham clash

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      THIERRY HENRY has called for more cameras to be introduced to football after West Ham scored a controversial goal against Arsenal.Tomas Soucek smashed home from Jarrod Bowen’s pull back, who narrowly kept the ball in according to referee Michael Oliver.
      Jarrod Bowen was judged to have kept the ball in by the slimmest of marginsCredit: Amazon Prime
      Thierry Henry has called for more cameras to be introduced to help officialsCredit: Getty

      VAR reviewed the incident for three minutes and 22 seconds but could not determine for certain whether the ball had gone out of play.
      Bowen’s body blocked the view from the main camera angle, with a camera on the opposite side of the pitch also unable to show a definitive perspective.
      VAR had no option but to instruct Oliver to stick with his on-pitch decision, and Henry accepted the officials were helpless.
      However he believes there is a solution to the issue – more cameras.
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      The Gunners legend claims another camera offering a bird’s eye view would have allowed the VAR to check whether the ball had left the pitch.
      Henry, speaking on Amazon Prime at half-time of West Ham’s 2-0 win over Arsenal, said: “Well that is the second time for us, Newcastle away. But if you want to help the referees to have the right angle, if you want to know the ball is out you have to be above the ball.
      “That is the only way you can know if the ball is out or not.
      “We are in 2023 soon 2024 and we still don’t have a camera that is above, it’s too many times where you don’t know if the ball is out or not.
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      “So can we have a camera that can be above that can see if the ball is out or not, if not it is just impossible to see it.”
      Arsenal conceded a similar goal in their 1-0 defeat to Newcastle earlier this season after Joe Willock kept the ball in by the slimmest of margins.
      To the naked eye the ball appeared to be out so plenty of Gooners were left fuming by the decision to allow the goal to stand.
      Mikel Arteta also complained after the match and Arsenal even wrote an open letter calling on the PGMOL to “address the standard of officiating”. More