This was the worst moment of my career

PAUL Durkin will be on his own this summer...as the one World Cup ref to have been fined and banned as a player.

Worse still, Durkin, the ginger-top from Dorset, will be the single official at the finals in France to have had his whistle taken off him by order of the FA.

Now they've selected him to take charge of their biggest showpiece, next month's FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Newcastle United at Wembley.

So there must be something special about a guy who recovers from these youthful setbacks to attract the top jobs in football.

Arsenal fans will remember Durkin as the man who showed a red card this season to their pony-tailed French favourite Emmanuel Petit.

But that's already in the past for Durkin, who jokes: "Heard the one about Russian Alexei Mikhailichenko and Ally McCoist, who was teaching him to speak English at Rangers?

"Mikhailichenko kept shouting 'You f***' at a mate of mine running the line in Scotland.

"My pal couldn't make out what he meant until Ally ran over and said 'Alexei, I keep telling you, it's not 'You f***', it's 'F*** you'."

You'll gather that Durkin is not unacquainted with the use of colourful language. Or dissent in general, for that matter.

He'll be unique this summer as the only ref in France to have been banned from playing - and fined for giving lip to match officials.

The only one too, no doubt, who has been suspended from reffing for not sending off a goalie who cursed him.

Ian Wright, whom Durkin will probably meet again for Arsenal's Wembley showdown with Newcastle, has good reason to be grateful for his experience in these affairs.

For Durkin tells me: "Ian doesn't know it, but I actually kept him on the field during Arsenal's semi- final of the Coca-Cola Cup against Aston Villa the season before last.

"Ian started going on about something he wasn't happy with. Now I've learned that he always likes to have the last word.

"So I just said 'Shut up Ian' and raced out of earshot to get on with the game.

"Sure enough, Ian was caught by the TV cameras mouthing something not very nice in my direction.

"Someone asked me later why I hadn't sent him off, and I could truthfully say I wasn't there to hear it. If I stood around and listened I wouldn't be able to keep up with play.

"I've always been aware that swearing never broke anyone's leg. I was a fitter for more than 20 years and, when I hit my thumb with a hammer, I turned the air blue and flung the thing to the other end of the workshop.

"But I'll give the red card to anyone who takes the time and trouble to insult me to my face."

And, as Petit discovered in a Premiership match at Aston Villa, anyone who manhandles him too.

"That incident with Petit was the worst moment of my career," he adds.

"I'm just sorry in hindsight that I let it happen.

"I was right to send him off but I was given a tag, somewhat unfairly, of being officious.

"Perhaps it was my body language. I developed the habit of thrusting the card at people while reffing abroad so there would be no misunderstandings.

"I quickly thrust the yellow from a distance at Steve Bould, who was running away after fouling Dwight Yorke.

"Petit was appealing for a penalty at the same time and I was looking right through him.

"Whether it was to gain my attention, I don't know. But players mustn't get away with putting their hands on refs.

"Now I make sure I slow down and compose myself before taking action.

"Reffing Arsenal again couldn't come too soon. It was a little barrier to get over because I knew I'd get some stick from their fans.

"I was apprehensive when they gave me the West Ham-Arsenal Premiership game, but it went fine. Just like the FA Cup Final will, I'm sure."

Durkin's dad was a journeyman pro with Bradford City, Rotherham and Aldershot, and Paul himself played local football to a decent level.

"My old man was a dirty bugger apparently," he says.

"He tells me he was never in trouble - but a few older refs have told me they remember sending him off.

"I was a left-sided midfield player with two good feet. My problem - like some of the players I have to deal with now - was that I couldn't keep my mouth shut.

"I was a bit sarcastic and kept telling refs 'Here we go again, playing against 12 men.' I got four cautions rather quickly.

"I asked for a personal hearing because I felt I was being victimised, but the Dorset FA banned me for 14 days and fined me pounds 4.

"Getting suspended as a ref later on was far more serious. It could easily have ended my career.

"It was the quarter-final of the Western League Cup. We were five minutes into extra time with the score 2-2.

"A keeper dropped a cross under pressure and the ball ended up in the net.

"As I ran back to the centre circle I heard him shout 'You f***ing w****r.'

"The lad apologised immediately and I just gave him a rollocking and left it at that.

"Unluckily for me the league chairman was there. He suspended me for six weeks, and I was devastated.

"But, in the end, it spurred me on to prove I could ref at the highest level."

Durkin has the unusual record of never having reported an angry football manager to the FA. His secret?

"I lock the dressing-room door if I think there is half a chance of someone getting himself into trouble that way," he says.

"I don't mind polite enquiries, but you know when it is going to be just the opposite."

Durkin wishes only that refs could insulate themselves just as effectively from the barbs of TV critics.

He adds: "I'll hold my hands up when I'm wrong. I have overturned cautions when reviewing them on video.

"But I think men like Alan Hansen, Andy Gray and Jimmy Hill have a responsibility to be correct too. Sometimes I'm not sure whether they know the laws of the game.

"I heard Hansen talking the other day about a Barnsley player who had been sent off for striking Michael Owen of Liverpool.

"Hansen said the player was unlucky because, if Owen had been taller, he would have been caught in the chest and not in the face. Can you believe that?

"A lot of people in the game are quick to jump on the bandwagon of criticising referees and deflect attention from their own deficiencies."

England boss Glenn Hoddle has invited Durkin to instruct his squad about FIFA's decision to outlaw the tackle from behind at the World Cup.

He plans to attend training sessions at Bisham Abbey before England play Saudi Arabia at Wembley next month.

He's looking forward to it. It's the only time he's guaranteed an unopposed hearing with self- confessed moaner Alan Shearer in attendance.

Copyright 1998 MGN LTD
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