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

[Swagger]

Whats really scary is Keanes was pulled up by VAR as violent conduct but Hwangs studs down the back of Armstrongs leg wasnt. He's raked his studs down the back of his calf nowhere near the ball.
Are you seriously suggesting the first one was deemed more a violent act than the second.
Like i said. Scary how they see things.

This is the pertinent point.

As a sport should we be more concerned with a challenge that could result in an injury that could significantly impact if not end a player's career or where someone might have to brush their hair afterwards?

Why on earth is VAR letting the Hwang challenge go unpunished yet hone in on an aerial challlenge between two players where there's been little contact except a slight (arguably unintentional) and momentarily pull of someone's hair?!

 

[Simo]

View attachment 339380

Maybe this poster should put this on the PL social media page

 

[Tony101]

Refs are always quick to give us soft red cards. Tarks was punched and nothing was done and yeah that would have been soft but if it was an Everton player he would have probably seen red.

 

[chrismpw]

Also...

 

[Marius57]

Refs are always quick to give us soft red cards. Tarks was punched and nothing was done and yeah that would have been soft but if it was an Everton player he would have probably seen red.

I dunno, tarks has got away with a few. There was that shoulder into the back of the Forest player off the ball a few weeks ago for example

 

[judge]

This is the pertinent point.

As a sport should we be more concerned with a challenge that could result in an injury that could significantly impact if not end a player's career or where someone might have to brush their hair afterwards?

Why on earth is VAR letting the Hwang challenge go unpunished yet hone in on an aerial challlenge between two players where there's been little contact except a slight (arguably unintentional) and momentarily pull of someone's hair?!

This is true. Keane's was a sending off, but it annoys me how pther/more dangerous offences are ignored. I aslo think that players who simulate fouls to try and get penalties (potentially game changing decisions) should be sent off, most only get booked (at most) for it. van de Ven last night springs to mind.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Just googled ‘premier league violent conduct rule’ and it was like the 2nd link

Violent conduct

www.premierleague.com

The way the club may well appeal
Is that violent conduct (which is what they have said it was for) is technically off the ball incidents in the guidance. Whereas this may technically fall under serious foul play (as it was challenging for the ball) where it doesn’t specify.

But hair pulling is in the rules. So let’s just not give them a decision to make.

Seems to be guidance rather than the laws of the game

Definitely don't think last night falls under those guidance due to there being next to no force and a complete accident

 

[Obes]

Seems to be guidance rather than the laws of the game

Definitely don't think last night falls under those guidance due to there being next to no force and a complete accident

Even the additional guidance relates to violent conduct for offences “off the ball”, when not challenging for the ball.

This was clearly a challenge FOR the ball, mid-air even.

 

[PITA]

Well you'd have to ask him that I suppose, wouldn't you? I can certainly see why it would be the case, it's perfectly logical to me. Sometimes you see a very slight bit of contact in the process of a challenge in the middle of the pitch which a referee blows for, but you don't want somebody getting a free shot at goal for that sort of thing. It would make sense to me that there's a higher threshold when the punishment is clearly so much more severe. I may be wrong about them being told it, but I'm sure i've seen them talking about it on that Howard Webb/Michael Owen thing.

Problem with that is that I wouldn't believe a word that he said.

 

[PITA]

Here they all are

Southall & Rideout v QPR December 1992 - (Played whole 2nd half with 9 - Lost 4-2 - Away).
Horne & Barrett v Newcastle February 1995 - (Played for nearly 30 odd mins with 9 - Lost 2-0 - Away).
Ferguson & Samways v Leicester March 1995 - (Played for nearly 30 odd mins with 9 - Drew 2-2 - Away).
Hutchison & Dunn v Leeds May 2000 - (Played injury time with 9 Lost 2-1 - Away).
Naismith & Weir v Liverpool April 2003 - (Played with 9 for final few mins - Lost 3-2 - Home).
Arteta & Neville v Liverpool December 2005 (2nd Red in injury time - Lost 3-1 - Home).
Neville & Hibbert v Liverpool Oct 2007- (2nd Red in injury time - Lost 2-1 - Home).
Brantwaite & Rondon v Brentford May 2022 - (Played with 9 for final few mins - Lost 3-2 - Home).
Keane & Grealish v Wolves Jan 2026 - (Played 9mins Injury time with 9 - Drew 1-1 - Home).

Just to add to this, The Leicester game, IIRC, we were leading 2-0 when we went down to 9.

 

[b-rad]

Where have you found this?

I've searched and searched for any specific mention of hair pulling and found nothing

PL 'guidance'...which also notes this

 

[IrishBlue2022]

Should the club be banging the Chris Cavanagh drum now?

How many decisions is that?

The VAR decision on Keane last night
Tarkowski penalty decision v Leeds at the start of the season
The VAR decision for the Rodri handball in 2022

I'm sure theres lots more.

Even better when you see he was the ref that didn't book Van Dijk back in November for sarcastic clapping.

 

[Ring master]

Just to add to this, The Leicester game, IIRC, we were leading 2-0 when we went down to 9.

We were leading 2-0, then had Samways sent off. Leicester pulled one back, the we had Fergusn sent off a few mins later. Leicester then made it 2-2 late

 

[PITA]

We were leading 2-0, then had Samways sent off. Leicester pulled one back, the we had Fergusn sent off a few mins later. Leicester then made it 2-2 late

Better recall than me.

 

[Ring master]

Better recall than me.

When everything goes wrong, it seems easier to remember, than when it goes good the odd time