I think the standard of reffing is generally good. I don't think we get a poor deal. Having said that, the referee blowing the whistle so quickly yesterday rather than allowing play to go on and pulling it back had there been no advantage wasn't good refereeing. It was a bad decision. They happen and this one was particularly poor, but many that people highlight, I agree with the referee not the partizan fan.
That was a conspiracy they didn't want little old Barnsley there. But I don't think yesterday's disallowed goal or the 20 pens in a row we conceded were refs out to get us. Just shocking reffing.
Sorry don't agree. We saw how bad refereeing was in the world cup, in general. But i honestly believe we have the worst of the lot at the moment. Again proven by the low numbers of British officials in the world cup
Far from it. We actually had the most officials at the world cup. 2 referee's and 5 assistants. More than any other country
But we clearly didn't have low numbers of officials at the world cup did we. We had more officials at the world cup than any other country. Only four nations were chosen to have two referees, we were one of the four and we had more assistants than anyone else too so no we didn't have low numbers at the world cup. We had the most.
I am not arguing i still think we had low numbers if you think of how much our football is watched worldwide compared to other leagues. And no matter who had most they were crap
genuine question, not having a go. why do you think there's a conspiracy against us? it just makes no sense to me. don't see what anyone has to gain, by actively plotting against us.
Totally agree Marc on your third point. I was actually discussing just that with a guy in the bar last night. There needs to be a way to address concerns back to those responsible, without repercussions on the club.
I think that some refs are influenced by betting companies. Just my opinion of course. VAR plays into their hands especially
Now I don’t understand why there would be a conspiracy against us. And I fully agreed with the “ref isn’t bent he’s just rubbish” argument many people have gone with in this thread. However. It’s seemingly every single game now we get stiffed by the officials on some way. We never get penalties awarded, never mind some of the dodgy ones we’ve had given against us lately. Yesterday’s blunder probably cost us 2 points yesterday. And ok, you can say, “bad reffing decision we’re just unlucky” but when does a weird decision like that go in our favour? Never. And you have to say it’s a massive coincidence at best? Perhaps we are the unluckiest team on the planet but isn’t it meant to even out? If so a play off spot is nailed on as we’ve so many dodgy pens, disallowed goals, odd sendings off to come in our favour that we should barely lose a game the rest of this season.
Bad decision though it was it didn't necessarily cost us anything, in fact it might have saved us a point. Bear in mind that, if he doesn't blow and Cole scores, the rest of the game from that point plays in a completely different way. We MIGHT have scored a second goal, but then so might Pompey.
You do start to wonder if there is not some subliminal bias against us in the minds of some refs though. I remember not so long ago a match statistic where Barnsley had, over 90 minutes 'conceded' well over 20 fouls and allegedly the opposition had only conceded about 2 over the same period. That is pretty unbelievable that even 50/50 challenges should be so one sided in teh mind of the referee. I genuinely believe, over the Premier season, many decisions did go against Barnsley, The Liverpool Willard match being a an extreme 'one-off' example. Many others though were probably down to experienced Premier League players 'playing' the ref combined with our relatively inexperienced (Premier League wise) naive players. In that match, replays showed that Morgan's arm went across Owen's chest whilst Owen went down clutching his face. Willard about 50 yards behind play and behind the incident could not wait to get the red card out , after which things went from bad to ridiculous. Another example was Shearer on the halfway line with Ade Moses (who wasn't exactly a 'Vinnie Jones' type of player - in fact, IMO one of the 'cleanest' players I have seen.) He went down like he had been poleaxed and the ref could not wait to get the red card out. That incident effectively ended the contest.