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

[blulouie]

but if we saw the opposition do this we'd be livid if the red didn't come out (regardless of our feelings on the law itself).

I wouldnt

If two Utd players done the same , I'd just laugh at them.
It wasnt exactly a right hook was it.

 

[blulouie]

It’s not a terrible rule either, ideally you don’t want players going round slapping eachother, it’s quite right that there’s a rule to prevent it.

The point is, ideally the referee would have taken the players to one side, had a word with them to calm down and booked gueye, but him not doing that doesn’t make it a ‘shocking’ decision and acting this way about every single refereeing decision you don’t like is just daft. If I was the ref I wouldn’t send him off but it’s a perfectly understandable application of a perfectly understandable law. It could have been handled better, but realistically you just have to hold your hands up and say it’s the player’s fault really not the referee’s.

So you agree you wouldnt have sent him off , but its a " perfectly understandable application of the law " ???

Which means like most of us you dont agree with the " law " .

That is the point most people are making.

 

[Lineker]

It’s not a terrible rule either, ideally you don’t want players going round slapping eachother, it’s quite right that there’s a rule to prevent it.

The point is, ideally the referee would have taken the players to one side, had a word with them to calm down and booked gueye, but him not doing that doesn’t make it a ‘shocking’ decision and acting this way about every single refereeing decision you don’t like is just daft. If I was the ref I wouldn’t send him off but it’s a perfectly understandable application of a perfectly understandable law. It could have been handled better, but realistically you just have to hold your hands up and say it’s the player’s fault really not the referee’s.

We have to remember as well that the laws of the game are written for all age groups. If this was 12 year olds, you probably want them sent off. I get that you referee differently for different levels, and I agree with you as well that subjectivity is built into the long. I agree with your post.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Meh, play silly games win silly prizes.

Was a bit of a soft red as very little weight behind it but you can’t complain when you slap a player, even a teammate, if you take an early shower. Especially when you are old enough to know better.

 

[Bwana]

Correct call that was. Unless not punished, matches like this would be:

 

[Lanolin]

So you agree you wouldnt have sent him off , but its a " perfectly understandable application of the law " ???

Which means like most of us you dont agree with the " law " .

That is the point most people are making.

Not at all no. Again, the application of the law is subjective and you’re not always going to get the exact same decisions in certain situations. I think given the circumstances (specifically the 2 players being on the same side) there was an opportunity to just book him but I can’t really argue with the decision to send him off. All I’ve said on this is that it wasn’t a ‘shocking’ decision, because it just wasn’t. Absolutely none of the reaction I’ve seen from the players, manager, media etc have said it was a shocking decision, I’m not sure where the debate even comes in.

 

[ElGato]

Woeful refereeing last night. Couldn't wait to get the card out for what was a minor discretion. The law provides enough nuance not to send him.

Also proceeded to penalise us at every set piece or throw in

 

[blulouie]

Not at all no. Again, the application of the law is subjective and you’re not always going to get the exact same decisions in certain situations. I think given the circumstances (specifically the 2 players being on the same side) there was an opportunity to just book him but I can’t really argue with the decision to send him off. All I’ve said on this is that it wasn’t a ‘shocking’ decision, because it just wasn’t. Absolutely none of the reaction I’ve seen from the players, manager, media etc have said it was a shocking decision, I’m not sure where the debate even comes in.

Subjective is a word that should be banned and replaced by the words common sense.

If the referee gives both a Yellow and a little talking to there's no debate at all.

 

[If You Know Your History]

Last night, we became the first away team in the history of the Premier League to win a match at Old Trafford after having a player sent off.

How good was that away support? At times it sounded like a home match!

 

[Lanolin]

Subjective is a word that should be banned and replaced by the words common sense.

If the referee gives both a Yellow and a little talking to there's no debate at all.

I don’t disagree, in fact I’ve said exactly that twice. None of that changes that it is neither a shocking decision nor a shocking law though, which was the only point being made.

Some refereeing decisions are shocking and worth kicking off about, some are decisions that you don’t agree with but ultimately can’t really complain too much about. This was very much in the latter camp for me, much like the tarkowski handball at Leeds. I wouldn’t have made the decisions the refs did but I don’t think they’re ‘wrong’ as such. I just think going off at the deep end calling things shocking, disgraceful, outrageous etc when they aren’t is a bit daft and unhelpful personally, but that’s just me.

 

[Caso01]

Seriously, how on earth is Pawson the ref on Saturday ?
And for good measure the blert from last night is fourth official

 

[blulouie]

I don’t disagree, in fact I’ve said exactly that twice. None of that changes that it is neither a shocking decision nor a shocking law though, which was the only point being made.

Some refereeing decisions are shocking and worth kicking off about, some are decisions that you don’t agree with but ultimately can’t really complain too much about. This was very much in the latter camp for me, much like the tarkowski handball at Leeds. I wouldn’t have made the decisions the refs did but I don’t think they’re ‘wrong’ as such. I just think going off at the deep end calling things shocking, disgraceful, outrageous etc when they aren’t is a bit daft and unhelpful personally, but that’s just me.

I personnally havent used the word shocking , as nothing shocks me from the fools from Stockley park & PGMOL that consistently use the term " subjective " to cover all their bases.
We seem to have more than our share of these decisions , this is what irks a lot of us.
You mention Tarks at Leeds , theres plenty more , Brighton player with an even more blatant handball at BMD.
Pickford being pushed for Spurs 2nd goal on top of dissallowing Jake O'Briens goal.
The whole reffereeing business needs overhauling " the rules" gave the ref an easy outlet last night and they will hide behind it when it suits.

 

[MACCA75]

I can’t remember exactly, so someone may want to remind me, but in stoppage time at home to Palace, wasn’t there a lengthy VAR check with no action taken after Mateta did something way more aggressive to Tarks?

 

[celticbluenose]

The ref could have handled it a lot better, but if we saw the opposition do this we'd be livid if the red didn't come out (regardless of our feelings on the law itself).

I don't agree with it or the application of it, but it wasn't an egregious decision.

not me, they can do what they like to one another as far as im concerned, none of our business

 

[aj79]

I personnally havent used the word shocking , as nothing shocks me from the fools from Stockley park & PGMOL that consistently use the term " subjective " to cover all their bases.
We seem to have more than our share of these decisions , this is what irks a lot of us.
You mention Tarks at Leeds , theres plenty more , Brighton player with an even more blatant handball at BMD.
Pickford being pushed for Spurs 2nd goal on top of dissallowing Jake O'Briens goal.
The whole reffereeing business needs overhauling " the rules" gave the ref an easy outlet last night and they will hide behind it when it suits.

Totally agree with this and have been saying it for ages. The terms such as "subjective" and "clear and obvious" are deliberately designed to simultaneously mean everything and nothing. It would make a politician blush how transparent it all is. They are terms that can be whatever you want them to be.

Last night is a classic example......if it had been De Light and Fernandes then its all nice and "negligible". Of course, this cant be proven, but we all know that certain teams get reffed differently. Having said all that, our players should also be aware of this, don't go to the likes of Old Trafford and give the ref an opportunity on a golden platter. In that respect IGG was an idiot