Take muzzle off and let our refs bite back

Discretion being the better part of valour, and the whole nine yards of cowardice, we will steer clear of the murkier elements of the Mark Clattenburg affair, if you don’t mind.

However, we still see vast potential in the whole man-bites-dog approach he is alleged to have deployed.

That’s exactly what we need: referees giving it socks to players, though, of course, we best make it clear that we are not urging aspirants to take it to the extremes Clattenburg is reported to have reached.