Ex-Premier League Referee's Yellow Card Set Alight in Sidemen Charity Match
In a bizarre and fiery incident at Wembley Stadium, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg had his yellow card set on fire during the seventh annual Sidemen Charity Match. The stunt was pulled off by YouTuber Max Fosh, leaving Clattenburg utterly astonished as the card disappeared in flames. This unexpected moment added a dramatic twist to the high-scoring charity event, which raised over £6.2 million for two selected charities and drew a massive crowd of 90,000 spectators.
Charity Match Highlights and Fiery Antics
The Sidemen Charity Match, hosted by the influential YouTube group the Sidemen, featured an action-packed game that ended in a 10-10 draw before KSI's YouTube Allstars secured a 4-1 victory in a penalty shootout. However, the most talked-about incident occurred less than a minute into the second half. As Clattenburg attempted to book Max Fosh for a foul, Fosh snatched the yellow card and, within seconds, it caught fire and vanished. Clattenburg reacted with disbelief, putting his hands to his face in shock.
This was not the first clash between Fosh and Clattenburg; their history dates back to 2023 when Fosh was booked and responded by holding up an Uno reverse card. In 2024, Fosh escalated the prank by using a miniature shredder to destroy the card. This year, he took it a step further with the fiery stunt, which went unpunished despite the clear violation of match rules. Fosh later revealed in the broadcast that he had only six days to prepare the trick, practicing it at home with a success rate of about 50 percent.
Match Dynamics and Record-Breaking Performances
Beyond the fiery spectacle, the match itself was a thrilling affair with numerous goals and memorable moments. Teams were allowed to challenge decisions this year, leading to a contentious penalty call in the 27th minute when TBJZL was penalised for a foul in the area. After reviewing the incident on the big screen, Clattenburg upheld the penalty, but SDMN FC goalkeeper XQC made a save, only to give the ball away immediately, allowing Miniminter to score.
Miniminter, whose real name is Simon Minter, delivered an outstanding performance by scoring a hat-trick, bringing his total to 14 goals in Sidemen Charity Matches—a current record. The event not only provided entertainment but also showcased the growing influence of digital creators in charitable initiatives, with the substantial funds raised highlighting the power of online communities in supporting worthy causes.
