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

[Lanolin]

Obviously there is still that line whereby something utterly blatant (such as an outfield player diving full length to deliberately save a shot) would have any technical element of subjectivity dismissed. One person disagreeing in those circumstances would be rightly dismissed as a nutter or someone who just doesn't understand the game. But I do think a fair amount of blatant stuff gets caught up in "subjectivity" and therefore creates an out for incorrect decisions.

Another example apart from the Gyokeres one this season would be McCallister in the Community Shield v Palace. 2 minutes to go, sticks his hand 3 ft above his head and handles it. Now I know the handball rule is a bit of a mess, but that has been a penalty for the last 100 years and it is still a penalty today. Absolutely no debate. But the ref bottled it, didn't want to give a last minute penalty v them. I know it was a glorified friendly, but that just reinforces the point. If you cant give a penalty against them in that kind of game, what chance in a game at Anfield? But during the decision process there is a lot of umming and ahing about "is this a handball?" "the ref might look at this"........and its just incredibly blatant. I know its the pundits and commentators doing the umming and ahing but it just feeds the machine whereby the refs are not scrutinised for a really poor decision.

In essence re last night however I do agree with you. I think there was plenty of room for common sense. Especially as the ref isn't being put in the awkward position of one of the players clutching his face in mock agony following the "strike" to the face. But there was plenty of scope within the loosely worded law to issue a red (what is negligible? I would suggest that slap was extremely negligible but others may disagree) In that respect, the criticism should start and end with IGG and an extremely daft loss of control. Its just very difficult to shake the feeling that had it been between 2 Utd players, then the ref would have adopted the "common sense approach" and again, would have been covered by the laws of the game. But that is the great unprovable!

Personally I thought the Gyokeres decision was right which maybe proves the point at hand. He won the ball and it wasn't a reckless challenge so for me no penalty was the right call. Totally fair for the ref to give it in real time because you can't see the touch, but once you establish he does touch it and isn't out of control with the tackle it's difficult to justify giving a pen. 99% of tackles everywhere on the pitch have some contact between the players but that doesn't make them all fouls. If you see it the other way though, it kind of goes against your wider point. That was a pen given for a sky 6 side against a non sky 6 side and you believe it should have been a penalty, but actually it got overturned. So the idea that certain clubs always get decisions can't be right can it? Don't get me wrong I do think there's an element of two tier refereeing, but I don't think it's anywhere near as prevalent as some people say and in many cases occam's razor applies - poor refereeing decisions are just poor refereeing decisions, not a conspiracy.

 

[aj79]

Personally I thought the Gyokeres decision was right which maybe proves the point at hand. He won the ball and it wasn't a reckless challenge so for me no penalty was the right call. Totally fair for the ref to give it in real time because you can't see the touch, but once you establish he does touch it and isn't out of control with the tackle it's difficult to justify giving a pen. 99% of tackles everywhere on the pitch have some contact between the players but that doesn't make them all fouls. If you see it the other way though, it kind of goes against your wider point. That was a pen given for a sky 6 side against a non sky 6 side and you believe it should have been a penalty, but actually it got overturned. So the idea that certain clubs always get decisions can't be right can it? Don't get me wrong I do think there's an element of two tier refereeing, but I don't think it's anywhere near as prevalent as some people say and in many cases occam's razor applies - poor refereeing decisions are just poor refereeing decisions, not a conspiracy.

Yes, the decision going against the "sky" club in this instance definitely doesn't fit the tin foil narrative. And I definitely agree that those instances where the sky club benefit get a lot more attention in the wider "non sky" community of fans than the other way round. And sometimes its nothing to do with any of that. Its either a plain mistake by the officials. Or equally, not a mistake, but the "wronged" team and their fans want a straw to clutch at.

Was just using that particular example more of a case of something that I think got classified as subjective, but in my eyes was 100% a penalty. Pope has come out, massively committed. His touch on the ball is effectively meaningless, the ball wasn't won, its still loose and there for Gyokeres to tap in, if he isn't sent sprawling by Pope. I think the vast majority of people who have been on the end of that playing amateur football are expecting a free kick if its outside the box, and a penalty if its inside. And Pope's body language suggested he was bang to rights and couldn't quite believe his luck that it had been overturned!

But I agree with your final comment, I also think 2 tier refereeing is an issue, but fans, managers and players of all clubs should stop using it as their go to recourse when things don't go their way. It totally devalues the genuine grievances and instances for genuine questioning.

 

[Lapeno77]

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

Kinda shows the referees mind set there.

Most of us watching that just thought wtf and probably would have told them to knock it off, if needs be a yellow apiece and on we go.

He's straight for the red without hesitation.

Guarantee there will be a similar incident this weekend and it won't be reffed in the same manner.

Way too much leeway in these rules for the creative approach to refereeing we're getting at the moment.

 

[ElGato]

Kinda shows the referees mind set there.

Most of us watching that just thought wtf and probably would have told them to knock it off, if needs be a yellow apiece and on we go.

He's straight for the red without hesitation.

Guarantee there will be a similar incident this weekend and it won't be reffed in the same manner.

Way too much leeway in these rules for the creative approach to refereeing we're getting at the moment.

Spot on

We're the team that refs feel comfortable applying the letter of the law to the nth degree just to show they can

Flexibility for top 6 teams of course

 

[msb]

Whilst technically correct last night, it was poor refereeing in my opinion. The degree of force gave him latitude to use a lower sanction, but like most referees he’s scared of not applying the letter of the law against the sleazy 6.

Sadly, Everton will meekly accept it, instead of a 3 week drama on-line to “prove” how shoddy this decision was. Que sera etc.

 

[pedro789]

Whilst technically correct last night, it was poor refereeing in my opinion. The degree of force gave him latitude to use a lower sanction, but like most referees he’s scared of not applying the letter of the law against the sleazy 6.

Sadly, Everton will meekly accept it, instead of a 3 week drama on-line to “prove” how shoddy this decision was. Que sera etc.

That's the problem we're far too submissive when it comes to bad decisions.

RS disallowed goal against City wasn't a terrible decision by any means but it's in media for days after and they're straight onto Webb.

They know it doesn't change anything but it sends a message to refs for future games - don't eff with us.

We thank the FA for deducting points and putting us bottom of the league.

 

[Moomin]

Yes he shouldn't have slapped him. I've agreed with you there but will agree again for your ego

As to whether it was violent conduct, it's not so black and white as is about 'negligible' force. You'll have your opinion on that, and so did the referee. The law offered him the opportunity to diffuse the situation and he chose to whip out the red card faster than that cartoon that shoots his own shadow

It was violent conduct. He raised his hand and slapped him across the face.

If you go out on the street and do the same as what he done you could be arrested.

 

[Moomin]

Kinda shows the referees mind set there.

Most of us watching that just thought wtf and probably would have told them to knock it off, if needs be a yellow apiece and on we go.

He's straight for the red without hesitation.

Guarantee there will be a similar incident this weekend and it won't be reffed in the same manner.

Way too much leeway in these rules for the creative approach to refereeing we're getting at the moment.

How many similar incidents have we had this season regarding team mates striking each other on the face?

 

[Marcus Kendall]

It was violent conduct. He raised his hand and slapped him across the face.

If you go out on the street and do the same as what he done you could be arrested.

Behave

 

[Marcus Kendall]

Let's all cut the nonsense and admit the games gone soft much to the detriment of the game in general

 

[Moomin]

Behave

I suggest you going out on the street and try it out.

 

[Lapeno77]

How many similar incidents have we had this season regarding team mates striking each other on the face?

Couldn't tell you. Maybe none, maybe a hundred. It was the sort of nondescript incident that usually doesn't live long in the memory, last night aside, for obvious reasons.

 

[Marcus Kendall]

I suggest you going out on the street and try it out.

I've seen much worse on a night out. Usually ends with the police just calming them down and allowing them on their way. The police are too busy arresting people for social media posts nowadays to care about someone gently slapping someone

 

[Moomin]

Couldn't tell you. Maybe none, maybe a hundred. It was the sort of nondescript incident that usually doesn't live long in the memory, last night aside, for obvious reasons.

If it was done on an opponent no one would be complaining about the red card. We would be calling him an idiot for raising his hand to an opponent.

It's classed as violent conduct, would we be ok for kids on the same team to be slapping each other for mistakes?

 

[Moomin]

I've seen much worse on a night out. Usually ends with the police just calming them down and allowing them on their way. The police are too busy arresting people for social media posts nowadays to care about someone gently slapping someone.

If people are stupid enough to post garbage on social media which is directly linked to them, then its a nice and easy shut case to get a prosecution.

Play a stupid game then don't be surprised to win a stupid prize.