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

[Milkman]

I think the only way to sort all the different interpretations of the handball rule is to make it easier for these incompetent refs to understand. If it hits your hand it's a penalty. Wherever your hand is, whether deliberate or not, however far the ball travels, whatever the colour of your shirt, penalty. Stupid, I know. But these decisions now keep changing every week.

That is the worst possible solution, sorry. How does the punishment fit the crime there? Just get rid of penalty kicks being awarded, it's that simple.

Handball is there to stop somebody picking it up and running with it into the net, not to penalise players for bad luck. Unless a player has Suarez'd it on the line, just give an indirect free kick outside the box.

 

[Rooney_Tunes]

Well his arm is in the air, so I'm not sure what's it's supporting, except a weak argument.

I can't even argue the handball calls anymore as I don't understand it at all.

They keep it vague on purpose to ensure the penalty is given to United, Liverpool, City and Arsenal and not given to West Ham, Everton, Wolves and whoever else they decide not to give it to.

 

[Woolverhampton_Blue]

If the arm is extended and it prevents a shot reaching the goal, it should be a penalty.

 

[Benicetoourboys]

I think the only way to sort all the different interpretations of the handball rule is to make it easier for these incompetent refs to understand. If it hits your hand it's a penalty. Wherever your hand is, whether deliberate or not, however far the ball travels, whatever the colour of your shirt, penalty. Stupid, I know. But these decisions now keep changing every week.

Surely players would start kicking the ball at hands & arms then (on purpose).

 

[Blast_of_Cannock]

Surely players would start kicking the ball at hands & arms then (on purpose).

I did say it was a stupid idea

 

[DOMNOLAN]

Gana Penalty
Disallowed goal
Unbelievable time wasting not added on/no yellows for it
Pickford fouled for their 2nd

Any more to add?

 

[b-rad]

Disallowed goal was correct IMO.

Agree with the others though. Ref was too busy booking Grealish for being unhappy at being fouled to give a yellow for the cynical foul or the other player kicking the ball away.

 

[Blue Neon]

Gana Penalty
Disallowed goal
Unbelievable time wasting not added on/no yellows for it
Pickford fouled for their 2nd

Any more to add?

Yeh! We got beat by better players who soaked us up to easily, especially thru the middle.

 

[Vedder]

Pickford wasn't stronger enough on the 2nd, never a pen for me.
I agree with you on the disallowed goal. I would say that it wouldnt even have been looked at if it wasn't for their moaning

 

[Street end man]

When Gana was taken out mid air with a big ignorant and purposeful barge i decided the rules of the modern charade of a game baffle me.
If we look at a player funny in the box it's a pen.

 

[BlueStevie35]

Disallowed goal was correct IMO.

Agree with the others though. Ref was too busy booking Grealish for being unhappy at being fouled to give a yellow for the cynical foul or the other player kicking the ball away.

If it’s Spurs, it doesn’t get disallowed imo. It’ll happen again in other games and won’t be ruled out, same with the handballs against us early on

 

[b-rad]

If it’s Spurs, it doesn’t get disallowed imo. It’ll happen again in other games and won’t be ruled out, same with the handballs against us early on

I'd suggest those would be the wrong decisions then.
Two players in an offside position. Both right beside/touching the keeper. There's no way that's not 'interfering' with play.

 

[terryefc]

26/10/25 EFC 0 Spurs 3​

Eughh. Sickening.
We played quite well and their goalie was inspired. That said - losing like that at home is unforgivable.
Yes that ref and VAR were abysmal. We bottled it though when their 2nd went in.

VAR is a fair measure of unconscious bias. In hindsight I'm not arguing with the disallowed goal or the push on Pickford - but would they have stood if it wasn't little old Everton.

We have to be stronger. I feel not for the first time that we seem to visibly shrink when decisions like these go against us.

Match Officials​

Referee:Craig Pawson
Video Assistant Referee:Stuart Attwell
Assistant Referee 1:Lee Betts
Assistant Referee 2:Matt Wilkes
Fourth Official:Lewis Smith
Assistant VAR Official:Constantine Hatzidakis

 

[arch stanton]

26/10/25 EFC 0 Spurs 3​

Eughh. Sickening.
We played quite well and their goalie was inspired. That said - losing like that at home is unforgivable.
Yes that ref and VAR were abysmal. We bottled it though when their 2nd went in.

VAR is a fair measure of unconscious bias. In hindsight I'm not arguing with the disallowed goal or the push on Pickford - but would they have stood if it wasn't little old Everton.

We have to be stronger. I feel not for the first time that we seem to visibly shrink when decisions like these go against us.

Match Officials​

Referee:Craig Pawson
Video Assistant Referee:Stuart Attwell
Assistant Referee 1:Lee Betts
Assistant Referee 2:Matt Wilkes
Fourth Official:Lewis Smith
Assistant VAR Official:Constantine Hatzidakis

they havent got a clue about bias and how views can be influenced. When Pawson was at the monitor, he was nodding, he was being told what he should be thinking from Atwell. That is 100% how to allow yourself to be conditioned to align point to another's point of view. If they are going to do that, dont bother with the charade of going look at a monitor Even better fuc VAR off!

 

[Marcus Kendall]

That is the worst possible solution, sorry. How does the punishment fit the crime there? Just get rid of penalty kicks being awarded, it's that simple.

Handball is there to stop somebody picking it up and running with it into the net, not to penalise players for bad luck. Unless a player has Suarez'd it on the line, just give an indirect free kick outside the box.

Totally agree about hand ball. Unless it's a blatant act by a defender to prevent the ball going into the box or at goal then it shouldn't be punished. It's why I hate European and International football as they have ridiculous interpretations of what hand ball is so you see millions of penalties for defenders who get the ball hit onto their hand from point blank range. No wonder defenders look average nowadays as they aren't allowed to defend anymore what with hand ball and the ridiculous softness of the game now when it comes to tackling and jumping for aerial duels