Mourinho was 'hit with a shoe' following a dispute with a Premier League referee

Throughout his distinguished refereeing career, Mark Clattenburg managed almost 300 Premier League games. Yet, one of his most memorable moments was not during a match but involved a fierce confrontation with Jose Mourinho.

Mark Clattenburg is among the most renowned referees in Premier League history. He dedicated 23 years to officiating, overseeing a total of 297 matches in the Premier League, 37 games in the FA Cup, and 21 in the League Cup. Known for his decisive nature, Clattenburg often faced disputes with players and coaches, but rarely lost his temper as he did in the incident with Jose Mourinho.

On the Daily Mail’s Whistleblowers podcast, the 50-year-old referee recounted: "He believed I had ignored a handball by Ryan Shawcross (Stoke). He insisted it was a penalty and asked me, 'Have you reviewed the incident?'".

Clattenburg admitted he lost his composure: "I said yes, and in a moment of anger, I threw my shoe towards him. Of course, I missed. Mourinho turned pale, speechless, and left the dressing room".

After going home and reviewing the footage, Clattenburg realized Mourinho had deliberately used psychological tactics. "When I watched the tape at home, I saw Shawcross hadn’t actually handled the ball. It was all psychological games, frustration, and annoyance" - he explained.

According to Clattenburg, the incident affected his relationship with Mourinho: "In the end, my relationship with Jose wasn’t the same as when he was at Chelsea and held a special charm. Everyone admired him and called him The Special One".

The event reportedly took place during a match between Stoke City and Manchester United, when Mourinho was managing the Red Devils. Shortly after, Clattenburg decided to step back from refereeing in the Premier League.

During his career in England, Jose Mourinho spent many years working at Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham. Wherever he went, he left a strong mark, not only through his achievements on the pitch but also due to fiery disputes with opponents, players, and referees alike.

Clattenburg’s story once again highlights Mourinho’s distinctive character: always applying pressure, constantly using psychological tactics to gain an advantage. And sometimes, this can cause even the toughest individuals to lose control.

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