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Former Premier League referee Graham Scott recently joined Emma Paton, Dan Kilpatrick and Tim Spiers on the Athletic FC podcast to discuss the realities of being an elite match official. Scott shared insights into dealing with difficult managers on the touchline, the most intimidating stadiums, and his most memorable refereeing error.
The Hardest Managers to Handle
Addressing the most challenging manager to deal with during matches, Scott admitted on the podcast that Mikel Arteta is the hardest work. He explained that the Arsenal manager constantly pushes limits to gain a competitive advantage, often stepping out of his technical area and lingering near the touchline during opponent attacks. Scott acknowledged that officials, including himself, have allowed Arteta to get away with too much, making the fourth official’s job extremely difficult. By contrast, Scott mentioned that Graham Potter was very calm and quiet, though he occasionally faced criticism for appearing not to care enough.
Scott also discussed how managers lobby officials behind the scenes, noting that former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp always attended the pre-match meeting to exchange team sheets and look the referee in the eye. While Klopp never acted intimidated, Scott stated there was a distinct electricity in the room during those interactions. He added that managers often waited in the tunnel at half-time to complain about missed decisions in an attempt to get inside the referee’s head.
Stadium Pressures and VAR Opinions
When discussing intimidating venues, Scott identified Goodison Park as the most hostile ground due to its tight geography and passionate crowds. He contrasted this with Manchester United’s Old Trafford, which he described as sanitised at times, with fans waiting to be entertained or complaining about club owners rather than focusing on the referee.
On the topic of VAR, Scott expressed support for technology correcting major errors, though he found game delays frustrating. He noted that the subjectivity of football laws, which rely heavily on convention and precedent rather than rigid definitions, inevitably leads to ongoing disputes. Regarding potential subconscious bias toward bigger clubs, Scott stated he was unsure if it existed generally, though VAR evidence suggests home bias occurs because more errors are corrected in favor of away teams.
Memorable Mistakes and Life After Retiring
Scott revealed his biggest mistake occurred during an April 2023 match between Leicester City and Aston Villa, where he incorrectly awarded a penalty to Leicester instead of a defensive free kick after a foul by a Leicester defender on Ollie Watkins. He realized his error immediately upon seeing the players’ reactions and expressed relief that VAR was available to overturn the decision. Before VAR, he noted, referees had to carry the burden of such mistakes.
Concluding the discussion about his equipment, Scott confirmed that referees purchase their own whistles and that he kept two reliable whistles throughout his career, though he never practiced blowing them at home. He recalled a rare incident at Bournemouth where he dropped his whistle while managing a defensive wall, forcing him to search the ground for it.
