VAR and Refereeing 2025/26 | General Discussion

[Gums]

It makes the manipulation and abuse way too obvious. No VAR allowed the excuse of human error, VAR doesn't. No VAR allowed getting offsides wrong, VAR doesn't

More checks don't make maniputaltion and abuse easier

It does though, as proven most recently when VAR clearly proritised the foul on Arsenal's Raya as opposed to pointing out that other fouls were happening on West Ham players before the ball even came close to Raya. It's a clear case of manipulation, be it due to incapability or because of bias.

Either way VAR managed to influence the outcome of the game, not because they found a clear and obvious error, but because they chose what to focus on most and which images to present the referee with.

It doesn't matter if the manipulation is obvious or not. They can hide behind weak to non-existent transparency and the fact that their accountability is entirely internal.

 

[Top_Bins]

Worse.

That the PGMOL and the PL understand the importance of the league as the "best in the world" and how narratives shape viewership and interest, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the PGMOL were understood to be somewhat complicit in helping that narrative come to pass.

Yeah, but saying that would be implying a conspiracy to rig the league for entertainment purposes.
There were rumours from ex players that the NBA is rigged, but proving such a thing would be a huge task.

We should start by taking away the star power of these ex refs and disconnecting them from their buddies at the PGMOL.
The only way i could see it working is if we implement a ban on refereeing the top league in the referee's own country.
We appoint a raft of foreign refs and totally independent panel of VAR staff, who have no club allegiances.
The VAR could be those old people who really love the rules, like Civic society members or neighbourhood watch busybodies.
People who won't deviate from the rules no matter what.

'The greater good'!

 

[Withnail]

Don’t be silly, All season long, You probably think it all evens out over the season. Those days are long past now, matey

I've never held to that evens out over a season crap. It was always bollox.

But if you believe the PL, PGMOL and the refs are actively conspiring so that Arsenal win the league then I've some magic beans here, very reasonable priced.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

I don’t think they’re conspiring to decide the title, but there does seem to be an element of sub conscious bias. Though I suppose it could be complete incompetence and inconsistent at that.

The VAR/AVAR discussion for the Brighton goal (which is almost identical to the Mbeumo/Cunha incident) is completely different in tone and speed, and media response, and Webb view/non apology.

 

[Fr. Todd Unctious]

Have PGMOL and Webb apologised over Havertz not getting a red last night or have they come up with more mental gymnastics to justfiy it and the press are nodding along

 

[Oranges038]

Anyone watch ''Ref Watch''? Gallagher is always on it and it's so pointless, he literally never goes against VAR or referees and blatantly not being honest.

Everything about him is fake.

I don’t think they’re conspiring to decide the title, but there does seem to be an element of sub conscious bias. Though I suppose it could be complete incompetence and inconsistent at that.

The VAR/AVAR discussion for the Brighton goal (which is almost identical to the Mbeumo/Cunha incident) is completely different in tone and speed, and media response, and Webb view/non apology.

Handball and a dangerous high boot on the overhead attempt that we've also seen callled.

But the narrative around Utd decisions is totally different.

 

[RedDevil@84]

Congrats to PGMOL for the title. Petty much.

 

[iammemphis]

Sorry i must have missed the memo where its alright to kick someone intentionally off the ball, no matter if its in retaliation to a barge.

 

[Tyrion]

So if you wrestle someone out of the way before the corner is kicked, its ok? But it is a yellow?

 

[hellhunter]

So if you wrestle someone out of the way before the corner is kicked, its ok? But it is a yellow?

That's the rule, yeah. Only a foul and therefore pen if the ball is in play

 

[Tyrion]

That's the rule, yeah. Only a foul and therefore pen if the ball is in play

I feel like the rules were completely changed because of VAR and they're just letting us know week by week.

 

[Denis' cuff]

I've never held to that evens out over a season crap. It was always bollox.

But if you believe the PL, PGMOL and the refs are actively conspiring so that Arsenal win the league then I've some magic beans here, very reasonable priced.

I’m not Robinson Crusoe on this mate. It has just been far too consistent with Arsenal and far too glaringly obvious. There has, for years, always been the “it’ll even out at the end of the season” but it’s waaaaay beyond that. If they reverse-refereed them next season, they’d be relegated. Plus lack of obvious red cards. The disallowed WH goal was exactly what they’ve done all season. Too much evidence,mright there. Everyone can see the glaringly obvious, pretty much every week. But referees all love arsenal. Obvs, there’ll be doubts but really… why?

 

[Withnail]

I’m not Robinson Crusoe on this mate. It has just been far too consistent with Arsenal and far too glaringly obvious. There has, for years, always been the “it’ll even out at the end of the season” but it’s waaaaay beyond that. If they reverse-refereed them next season, they’d be relegated. Plus lack of obvious red cards. The disallowed WH goal was exactly what they’ve done all season. Too much evidence,mright there. Everyone can see the glaringly obvious, pretty much every week. But referees all love arsenal. Obvs, there’ll be doubts but really… why?

Reverse relegated. Ok, man

 

[Waynne]

These feckers need to sit down and sort this shite out. This season has been dogged by inconsistent calls from both the on field official and VAR.

If the WWE corner kick bollocks continue into next season.....

 

[RedDevil@84]

These feckers need to sit down and sort this shite out. This season has been dogged by inconsistent calls from both the on field official and VAR.

If the WWE corner kick bollocks continue into next season.....

I would be so disappointed with Carrick if it wasn't part of our corner routine in our game#1 next season

 

[Waynne]

I would be so disappointed with Carrick if it wasn't part of our corner routine in our game#1 next season

I think they're going to work out a way to police it better or at least that's what I hope they achieve because there was just too much noise the past week around the issue from managers, pundits and players.

 

[NotChatGPT]

I don’t think they’re conspiring to decide the title, but there does seem to be an element of sub conscious bias. Though I suppose it could be complete incompetence and inconsistent at that.

The VAR/AVAR discussion for the Brighton goal (which is almost identical to the Mbeumo/Cunha incident) is completely different in tone and speed, and media response, and Webb view/non apology.

I mean, Mark Clattenburg seemingly can’t brag enough about how he was happy to ignore the rules in matches. He’s even stated that one of the reasons he gave Atletico a penalty in the CL final is because Real Madrids goal should’ve most likely been disallowed, so it was a compensation. Coote?

I think it’s fairly obvious there’s a bit of everything, direct bias, sub conscious bias, incompetense, inconsistency.

As for the title race, it would surprise me if it wasn’t in the back of any of their minds not to feck it up in any direction. Gabriel escaping a red card and a 3 match ban, Havertz escaping a red card and a 3 match ban, Silva escaping a red card and 3 match ban.

I think the same can be seen in the opposite end of it with the relegation candidates, referee was looking straight at the leeds player being booted in his face but he waved play on, plenty of replays before he was sent to the screen to award Leeds a penalty. Last minute tackle on Maddison, which seem to be a clear penalty, was just waved away. West Ham against Newcastle. Just seems to be aversion against making a big decision that can have a major impact.

 

[Fr. Todd Unctious]

Salisbury not selected for this weekend

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c1j2egjlp53o

Meanwhile

Meanwhile, James Bell has been selected as VAR for Fulham's home game with Newcastle, despite criticism of the decision not to recommend a review of a challenge by Arsenal's Kai Havertz on Burnley's Lesley Ugochukwu on Monday

Sailsbury followed the rules relating to handball as they're currently laid out while Bell didn't do anything despite it being a blatantly obvious red card and referral. But there was only media meltdown over one of them and it wasn't the latter. Atwell has been at the centre of a number of contentious decisons agains us but got given games involving us subsequently. But yeah the Webb and PGMOL favour United or something

 

[Beachryan]

That's the rule, yeah. Only a foul and therefore pen if the ball is in play

This blatantly isn't the case for everything though. Or else we could just hatchet-job a team's best player before the kickoff. Or before a throw-in etc.

The rules are a farce. You can absolutely foul someone when the ball isn't in play. How many times have we seen, for example, managers and bench players get yellow cards while the ball is out of play? They're just making random sh*t up.

 

[hellhunter]

This blatantly isn't the case for everything though. Or else we could just hatchet-job a team's best player before the kickoff. Or before a throw-in etc.

The rules are a farce. You can absolutely foul someone when the ball isn't in play. How many times have we seen, for example, managers and bench players get yellow cards while the ball is out of play? They're just making random sh*t up.

It still gets acted on as unsporting behaviour, violent conduct and so on, it's not without punishment. There's just no freekick for it.

 

[bstb3]

Salisbury not selected for this weekend

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c1j2egjlp53o

Meanwhile




Sailsbury followed the rules relating to handball as they're currently laid out while Bell didn't do anything despite it being a blatantly obvious red card and referral. But there was only media meltdown over one of them and it wasn't the latter. Atwell has been at the centre of a number of contentious decisons agains us but got given games involving us subsequently. But yeah the Webb and PGMOL favour United or something

Yeah, and then we wonder why we get the short end of the stick on a lot of 50.50 decisions. It's clear - a feck up in our favour is the worst thing a ref can do, it causes the most noise and has the worst outcomes for them, even if there is some reasoning. feck up against us, no problem, maybe we get an apology but most likely its barely mentioned. Double standards - the pain of being the biggest, sadly.

 

[Oranges038]

Salisbury not selected for this weekend

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c1j2egjlp53o

Meanwhile




Sailsbury followed the rules relating to handball as they're currently laid out while Bell didn't do anything despite it being a blatantly obvious red card and referral. But there was only media meltdown over one of them and it wasn't the latter. Atwell has been at the centre of a number of contentious decisons agains us but got given games involving us subsequently. But yeah the Webb and PGMOL favour United or something

You'll never guess who's on VAR at Brighton on Sunday.

I think Utd can prepare to be screwed over.

 

[Doracle]

Do I assume we aren’t getting any more from PGMOL on the handball decision than that “football’s expectation” is that the goal would be disallowed?

Where is the detailed reasoning as to why that is the expectation? Are they saying Mbeumo deliberately handled the ball or, if not, how does that expectation fit with the rules? Where does “clear and obvious” come into this and is it accepted that the VAR was wrong to intervene at all? If not, how can it be a clear and obvious error when there were “justifiable reasons” why it was not handball?

 

[DavidDeSchmikes]

still waiting for the PGMOL apology for the Havertz non red..

 

[MissKatie]

What a non suprise.

I hear all the time that we get all the decisions in every game but the KPI panel shows that we are the most disadvantaged team by VAR this season with 9 decisions being wrong against us.

Its not a conspiracy against us, just that referees know that if they make a contentious decision for us, they end up getting punished for it.

 

[Wolfbot]

Pretty annoyed about that apology coming out for the Mbuemo handball where the referee applied the law correctly.

I agree that it gave an unfair advantage to United and commons sense would say it should be disallowed. However, I don't see why they'll issue an apology for a technically correct decision whilst they say sweet fa about many poor decision, some of which have been detrimental to United.

 

[noodlehair]

They need to stop this apology rubbish in general. It was an idiotic decision that had no bearing on anything.

When you pick and choose apologies for specific decisions it looks like bias, because, intentional or not, that is what it is.

If there is an apology it should be a general "sorry we are so sh*t" apology, which is meaningless unless it is coupled with changes.

 

[Dudu]

Didn't realize how many red cards they got away with too.

 

[TwoSheds]

Didn't realize how many red cards they got away with too.

There's quite a few unbelievable calls there, but how Merino and Timber didn't get 2nd yellows are perhaps the worst ones.

 

[Anustart89]

Didn't realize how many red cards they got away with too.

The rationale for the non-pen at 2:10 is interesting to say the least in the wake of Webbs apology.

 

[Anustart89]

Didn't realize how many red cards they got away with too.

Quite shocking how many of these games have Darren England in the middle of it.

Chelsea non-penalties, Merino no second yellow, West Ham overturn with him as VAR, Aston Villa Martinez non-foul and I’m only halfway through the video.

 

[Berbasbullet]

It’s good that the ref at Old Trafford has been thoroughly taught by everyone to never give a big decision to United at OT again.

Hmm I wonder why we get absolutely savaged by the refs week after week.

 

[Anustart89]

It’s good that the ref at Old Trafford has been thoroughly taught by everyone to never give a big decision to United at OT again.

Hmm I wonder why we get absolutely savaged by the refs week after week.

fecking wankers. Gary Neville in particular is an absolute scrote driving the anti-United media furore from his Sky tower but he supposedly loves the club and only wants the best for it.

And gets a referee demoted for giving us a perfectly correct decision.

 

[NotChatGPT]

The rationale for the non-pen at 2:10 is interesting to say the least in the wake of Webbs apology.

They’ve taken a very pro-active approach to stretching the limits as far as possible. There’s obviously quite a few nonsense clips in there, but the Gabriel handball against Newcastle is one of those where you go, sure he’s sliding in and needs to use his arms for balance and support, but that stretched out hand that blocks the cross takes the piss out of it.

 

[NotChatGPT]

Gary Neville

He’s annoying as feck.

He has a platfom where he can make a difference in terms of the public scrutiny, and perhaps drive home a few questions about why referees get demoted for making decisions that goes for us, but no matter how big the feck up is against us (penalty, lack of penalty, wrong sending off) there’s always a match the following weekend in the PL For them.

If the decision to allow Cunha’s goal to stand is such a feck up that Webb has to apologize to Nottingham Forest and the responsible referee gets demoted, what is the exact difference between Mbeumo’s handball and the standards already set with Middlesbrough handball against us in the FA cup, or the Brighton handball against West Ham earlier this season, the latter happened to be defended by Webb who now says that in a near idential situation a better and more correct outcome would’ve been to disallow it. West Ham is a relegation candidate and that match ended with a draw, i’m sure they must be impressed, but no questions asked in public about the situations, no attempt to highlight the major differences in how teams are treated. Same with the fecking red card to Martinez, «oh he can’t do that» and then that’s it.

Instead, he uses the platform to fuel the fire and build up the media nonsense.

 

[Fitchett]

Do I assume we aren’t getting any more from PGMOL on the handball decision than that “football’s expectation” is that the goal would be disallowed?

Where is the detailed reasoning as to why that is the expectation? Are they saying Mbeumo deliberately handled the ball or, if not, how does that expectation fit with the rules? Where does “clear and obvious” come into this and is it accepted that the VAR was wrong to intervene at all? If not, how can it be a clear and obvious error when there were “justifiable reasons” why it was not handball?

Yes, both Webb and his Norfolk stooge, Cann, coming out with this "football expects" nonsense this week. What exactly does this mean? That a referee should ignore the rules and make a populist decision because that is what Abu supporters want? Looks like we will continue to be shafted by referees and the media.

 

[hellhunter]

Didn't realize how many red cards they got away with too.

Rice vs Chelsea is probably my favourite one. Two pens in one

 

[Mb194dc]

Didn't realize how many red cards they got away with too.

I did, it's been a ridiculous season. Gemini tells me in the league, the last penalty they conceded was 502 days ago on January 4, 2025 and the last red card 579 days ago on October 19, 2024. Meanwhile they've been NFL blocking at pretty much every single corner in that period.

 

[DennisReynolds]

Didn't realize how many red cards they got away with too.

Pure insanity. What a joke season it's been.

 

[Ekkie Thump]

I did, it's been a ridiculous season. Gemini tells me in the league, the last penalty they conceded was 502 days ago on January 4, 2025 and the last red card 579 days ago on October 19, 2024. Meanwhile they've been NFL blocking at pretty much every single corner in that period.

Gemini's telling fibs. They last got a straight red card 453 days ago (22nd February 2025). Their last double yellow was 375 days ago vs Liverpool (11th May 2025). Brighton got a pen against them on 4th Jan 2025 (502 days ago).

Obviously these are still a really long time ago.