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

[mistuhp]

Could clapping a referee not be classed as subjective. Grealish might of genuinely been applauding what he felt was a good decision....don't get me wrong he was sarcastically clapping but surly it's subjective?

I'm kind of wondering on this one because when they showed the replay he didn't appear to be looking at the referee. Sometimes players in different sports will clap like that when things aren't going well and they do something like win a challenge and draw a foul. The whole "sarcastic clapping at the ref" is only an actual clear dissent case when they're actually doing it towards the referee. It seems like the referee absolutely lost his head after Grealish had been previously going off about his incompetence.

 

[kevanb]

The game is gone if that hair pull is violent conduct. Grealish applauding these corrupt official doing their best to create the desired result.

 

[NorthernBlue]

How some fans think it’s a red is beyond me. It feels like we have been fed a diet of dreadful decisions in football over the years that fans just accept it.

It’s so obvious he’s just trying to stay right and grab his [Poor language removed], his hair gets in the way. Ref should just say act with common sense and have a word saying don’t do that again etc.

Just an awful decision.

The Grealish one is fair enough as well. Clear second yellow.

Agree so people get the footy they deserve in the end. It’s becoming a circus. My wife was laughing her head off when it was deemed violent conduct. It’s embarrassing.

Duncan Ferguson would get sent off on every appearance in today’s game.

 

[ToffeeTim]

for everyone talking about this letter of the law stuff I’m fairly sure Hwang caught Armstrong about halfway up his calf and i’m sure the precedent had been changed to anything above ankle height was a red?

officiating in this country is the absolute lowest of low, i can’t believe the refs make it off of the pitch some weeks

Clear red card tackle

 

[DOMNOLAN]

Genuinely the worst decision this season. Worse than the handball decisions.

 

[detroiturk15]

I'd be fine with MORE trips to the monitor if they allowed referees to give yellows in a situation like Keane's. A red card is such a harsh penalty for what he's done, and while it may not have happened exactly the same way, other clubs have been hurt by similar where the punishment doesn't fit the act.

 

[Marius57]

The game is gone if that hair pull is violent conduct. Grealish applauding these corrupt official doing their best to create the desired result.

The violent conduct rules specifically talks about hair being pulled.

However the violent conduct rules is usually for off the ball incidences.

 

[Bedfordblue]

I’m gobsmacked by that, all the pushing, shirt pulling that goes on in the box and yet a sending off in the middle of the park for touching hair ffs!

More you think about it, the madder it is.
It’s not about the hair pull per se, but whether it met the bar for violent conduct…..

I don’t think it did. The other examples involved petulance or clearly premeditated hair pulling, but regardless of that, is pulling someone hair during a challenge any more violent than leading with an elbow or pulling someone’s arm as you jump with them? Can’t see myself.

If you were to confront a player and drag them by their hair then of course that’s clearly violent, but that today? Nah.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Think both of ours were reds, but so was this

 

[mightymoyes]

Can't get over how bad that Keane decision was, literally one of the worst in history.
Expect it from that cocksplash kavanagh on var but then for the gutless worm ref not to stand up to him was unbelievable!

 

[DanEFC92]

Just mad how it was even spotted. Just seem to be eagle eye whenever we make an infringement and then turn VAR cameras off when it's against us.

 

[Marcus Kendall]

Agree so people get the footy they deserve in the end. It’s becoming a circus. My wife was laughing her head off when it was deemed violent conduct. It’s embarrassing.

Duncan Ferguson would get sent off on every appearance in today’s game.

It's the same where 'contact' no matter how minimal means a player has the right to dive to the floor theatrically and fans are brain washed into thinking this is fair game rather than calling out the cheating

 

[Mozza1987]

Keane's red is honestly the worst I've probably seen. Violent conduct, what an absolute joke.

 

[Bryan+]

Think both of ours were reds, but so was this

I agree - I threw me remote at the telly when I saw that

 

[Parker]

Anyone that still doesnt think the whole things fixed?