Premier League referees did 'Crossbar Challenge' on Soccer AM back in the day

“You have never played football.”

That was Jurgen Klopp’s issue with referee Paul Tierney after Liverpool drew 2-2 with Tottenham in December.

The Liverpool boss felt his side should have had a penalty when Diogo Jota went down under the challenge of Emerson Royal. 

QUIZ: The ultimate 2021/22 Premier League quiz – a question on each club

Klopp insisted that the Liverpool forward stopped to take a shot before being barged in the back and suggested that if Tierney had played the game, he’d have understood that and given a spot-kick.

“And then there is the penalty situation with Diogo Jota,” Klopp said after the match. “Mr Tierney told me Diogo stops on purpose because he wants the foul. First and foremost if you want to shoot you have to stop because you cannot do both.”

But is Klopp right in suggesting certain referees have never played the game and, therefore, don’t understand the rules?

Well, we’re not too sure on that theory but it’s fair to say they don’t make for particularly good footballers.

That much could be seen back in the day when a host of Premier League refereeing legends took part in Soccer AM’s Crossbar Challenge.

For those of you that don’t know, Crossbar Challenge is a challenge where you have to hit the crossbar with one kick from the halfway line.

Could Premier League referees do it? Soccer AM put that to the test almost 20 years ago.

Well, Graham Poll set the tone – quite literally – with an awful effort.

Mike Dean was up next and, in typical Mike Dean style, opted for a toe-punt. In fairness, it went straight but was never in danger of hitting the crossbar.

Household names Phil Dowd, Steve Bennett and Mark Halsey tried next but were also unsuccessful.

Then it was the turn of official-turned BT Sport