Bad ref decisions - for and against - season 2025/26

[Shibbywiggles]

You make good point here. But it's part of the problem. Because they're marginal and can go either way, Var can manipulate the game in a very inconspicuous way. Var is very inconsistent but by and large they go in favour of the 'big 6' teams.

Same can be said with added time. I have no idea how the time is calculated. It's only in the last say 4-5 years that 5+ minutes has been the norm. Was there ever a public announcement that they'd be stricter with time added on? It always used to be 1-4 minutes with 5+ being a rarity. It's seemed to happen by stealth. Now it's regularly 5+. Do we ever get a break down of how it's calculated? I dont think we will ever get that. It's just another way to inconspicuously manipulate the game for a certain result. Yesterday there were 6 subs and a goal. That's 3.5minutes minimum (30 seconds for a goal seems too sort too), but are they also adding on time wasting taking throw in, goal kicks etc? Are they adding on time for bookings? I don't have a clue.

I would love someone to time the amount of time the ball was out of play in that second half.

I’m not sad or bothered enough to do it myself like but it’d be interesting to know.

 

[Blast_of_Cannock]

I would love someone to time the amount of time the ball was out of play in that second half.

I’m not sad or bothered enough to do it myself like but it’d be interesting to know.

I think it was something like 53 minutes the ball was in play, according to what I read today.

 

[Shibbywiggles]

I think it was something like 53 minutes the ball was in play, according to what I read today.

Hard to argue if it was in play for 53 minutes in the second half to be fair

 

[Blast_of_Cannock]

Hard to argue if it was in play for 53 minutes in the second half to be fair

Yeah, I should have said over the whole 90

 

[Lanolin]

You make good point here. But it's part of the problem. Because they're marginal and can go either way, Var can manipulate the game in a very inconspicuous way. Var is very inconsistent but by and large they go in favour of the 'big 6' teams.

Same can be said with added time. I have no idea how the time is calculated. It's only in the last say 4-5 years that 5+ minutes has been the norm. Was there ever a public announcement that they'd be stricter with time added on? It always used to be 1-4 minutes with 5+ being a rarity. It's seemed to happen by stealth. Now it's regularly 5+. Do we ever get a break down of how it's calculated? I dont think we will ever get that. It's just another way to inconspicuously manipulate the game for a certain result. Yesterday there were 6 subs and a goal. That's 3.5minutes minimum (30 seconds for a goal seems too sort too), but are they also adding on time wasting taking throw in, goal kicks etc? Are they adding on time for bookings? I don't have a clue.

Yep, couldn’t agree more. I’ve said for a long time the clock being stopped in the way that it is in rugby etc is the easiest and most obvious improvement you can make to the game but for some reason they just don’t want to do it. I was anti VAR from before it came in because I thought it was obvious it would work the way it has, and nothing that’s happened since has changed my mind.

 

[James Patrick]

A game where you get booked for trying to take a quick free kick and get the game moving but not for making multiple and constant fouls on an opponent because you can’t stop him fairly. What a farce.

At one end they're complaining about goalkeepers slowing game but then when you try to keep it going you get punished.

 

[Bwana]

Bradley: Premier League -data (2018–2023) shows that players committing fouls against the same player ≥4 times get a yellow card in ~85 % of such cases. Funny how even stats bend in front of ye mighty röda...

 

[Bluesnapper]

Proof we were stitched up in the Derby.

Second half, with 6 subs, SSN reckons the ball was in play for just 26 mins.

There graphic shows all games for last weekends matches the matches lasted longer than the Derby.

 

[PKwalnuts]

Proof we were stitched up in the Derby.

Second half, with 6 subs, SSN reckons the ball was in play for just 26 mins.

There graphic shows all games for last weekends matches the matches lasted longer than the Derby.

Saw this
Dermot Gallagher doing his best but the elephant in the room was loud amd clear.
Stitch Up.

 

[judge]

Yeah, i thought they were supposed to add on 30 seconds for each sub. So, if all 6 were at different times that would be 3 mins. I would expect there to have been 'normal' injury time on top of that. Doesn't make a difference though, we still wouldn't have scored. I can't see why they can't have the time displayed at the ground (like they do at Rugby?). The forth official or one of the VAR lot could be responsible for stopping the clock/winding it back when there's been a longer delay than expected - due to an injury etc. It would help stop the perception that time is added on/taken off to favour the Sky 6..................maybe that transparency is why they don't do it!

 

[Tipp blue]

Proof we were stitched up in the Derby.

Second half, with 6 subs, SSN reckons the ball was in play for just 26 mins.

There graphic shows all games for last weekends matches the matches lasted longer than the Derby.

Look at the differences.. they really need to look at this, change it to 35 minute halves with a clock that stops like Rugby. At least you are getting 70 minutes of football, the Sunderland Villa game only had 48 minutes of play in total.

 

[Charles Hawtrey]

So they can create VAR, goal-line technology and pitchside replays for the ref but they can't auto determine stoppage time? why doesn't the 4th official just do it with a stopwatch in his pocket if they want to be lo-tech?

 

[terryefc]

23/9/25 Wolves 2 Everton 0 League Cup

No VAR in operation.

Awful performance really. Wolves very physical but deserved to win. Moyes starting 11 was weak considering it was an away game.
Ref was useless. Officious nark allowing them to get away with several fouls and suspect time keeping once again.
No complaints about the result though.

Match Officials​

Referee:Craig Pawson
Assistant Referee 1:Lee Betts
Assistant Referee 2:Adrian Holmes
Fourth Official:Sam Allison

 

[Timbucktoo]

We took a quick free kick there late in the second half, though someone would be due a yellow card but none appeared.

 

[Rita_Poon]

so unsporting behaviour is a bookable offence, does that mean a hand ball can be penalised twice, once for the offence and then for the intent?

like with all of life, when the rules are applied unevenly, it ends up leaving those harassed by such with nothing left but to get their own back.