Celtic hero Chris Sutton has admitted refereeing a game is 'difficult' after exchanging the microphone for the whistle.
The always-entertaining pundit has been campaigning for better conditions for referees at youth and grassroots level after investigations conducted by the BBC found hundreds of officials in England's amateur Sunday league 'feared' for their safety and are currently 'dissatisfied' with measures to tackle abuse.
Sutton decided to step out of the pundit studio and give it a go himself, and the Celtic hero admitted his concerns about being the man in the middle but insists football must look to grassroots level to solve an issue of referee wellbeing.
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In the clip he says: "I'm Chris Sutton, I'm about to referee a match and I'm petrified.
"I think I know all the rules and laws of the game. The serious side of it is that I think there's a decline in refereeing at grassroots level due to abuse. The boys made it easy for me and the spectators did too. I've seen a lot of games and followed a lot of youth football because my son is playing.
"I've seen a lot of things get out of control and I once reacted badly because I thought he [son] was badly injured. I walked on to the field because I was concerned. I realise I shouldn't have done that.
"I realise how difficult it is but feeling run high. Sunday morning football wouldn't work without volunteers, people giving the time up. If there is a decline its worrying and I don't think any of us disagree with somebody walking away if they felt threatened."
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