Referees’ Performances | 2024/2025

[CityBrat64]

One thing that really annoys me is this "sending Henderson have would have spoilt the game".

Its just total bollocks - So fucking what !!! - it was Henderson's decision to swat the ball away and as such he is the only one risking "spoiling the game and thereby diminishing Palace's chances at the same time.

All we want is for games to be referred / VAR'd correctly by applying the laws of the game and this just isn't happening. Far too many examples to mention but Saturdays was right up there with the worst decisions to ever come out of VAR. Instead of just the Ref's opinion its now a subjective committee involved - its a farce.

Not sure the Ref could see the incident clearly, but where the fuck was the lines man / person? it wasn't just outside the box - it was a good yard outside

It then goes to VAR and then to fuck with the ridiculous reasons / excuse as to why no red card.

Either the VAR officials are wholly incompetent and as such should never be involved with VAR again, or its corruption in plain sight. My money is on the latter.

The club should speak up about this, not least for the sake of the 1000's of blues there on Saturday spending their hard earned supporting the Team and club and the rest of us watching the game on the box.

The linesman was a good 7 or 8 yards behind play, ref wouldn't be able to see from his position. So it goes to VAR and how he/they could get it so wrong when they have the view of Henderson slapping the ball away off Haaland toe is just totally incomprehensible.

 

[Edghill OG]

The linesman was a good 7 or 8 yards behind play, ref wouldn't be able to see from his position. So it goes to VAR and how he/they could get it so wrong when they have the view of Henderson slapping the ball away off Haaland toe is just totally incomprehensible.

Not as incomprehensible as you might think.

 

[bluemanchester]

The club should speak up about this, not least for the sake of the 1000's of blues there on Saturday spending their hard earned supporting the Team and club and the rest of us watching the game on the box.

The club will be making an official complaint on behalf of all the fans who travelled to Wembley at cosiderable expense. They said today they will send the complaint in immediately after the letter of complaint goes to UEFA regarding the atrocious conditions and organisation in Istanbul for the Champions League Final. Rest assured blues, the club have our backs covered;-)

 

[AJS1961]

The linesman was a good 7 or 8 yards behind play, ref wouldn't be able to see from his position. So it goes to VAR and how he/they could get it so wrong when they have the view of Henderson slapping the ball away off Haaland toe is just totally incomprehensible.

VAR finally lost the minimal credibility it had! The FA got what they wanted.............Wouldn't have suited their 'agenda' to have a club they are in conflict with win their Cup. Just like when MCFC won the PL and Masters didn't show up to present the trophy!

 

[69FACUPfinal]

Absolutely and the return leg at our ground when we had a 1st half goal disallowed for off side, when a dipper player played it back. Our player was in an offside position but a dipper played it back. The none offsides at the dippers hole were fucking rediculous.

Yes. And then the lorente handball v Spurs in Cl in 2019. That was just a few months before a perfectly good Jesus goal ( winner) was disallowed v Spuds in Aug 19, thus giving Dips a 2 point advantage early doors.

 

[meltonblue]

Be interesting to found out why he wasn’t allowed to be involved in the semi final.
If he wasn’t allowed to be part of the on field team I’m sure they could have swapped him with the var assistant.

I’m not sure that’s true. He was one of the linesmen in our game against Palace in the league a few weeks ago (and Gillett was the onfield ref).

 

[Blueboy73]

The assistant VAR shouldn’t have any role in the decision making process.

If that's the case, why have an Assistant VAR?
It's naive to think Cann or any other Assistant VAR does't have any involvement.
They wouldn't be there or listed as a match official if they weren't involved.

 

[Blueboy73]

But it’s ok as these things even themselves out over a season is usually what we get told,there needs to be an investigation and honestly those in the VAR booth sacked,but nothing will happen as it’s City and we are seen as cheats and it’s good for the game the underdog wins ..

All these "neutral" fans who are full of it because City didn't win (mainly because they're jealous of our success) will be whinging like fuck next time their club is screwed over to benefit one of the usual suspects.

 

[StillBluessinceHydeRoad]

One thing that really annoys me is this "sending Henderson have would have spoilt the game".

Its just total bollocks - So fucking what !!! - it was Henderson's decision to swat the ball away and as such he is the only one risking "spoiling the game and thereby diminishing Palace's chances at the same time.

All we want is for games to be referred / VAR'd correctly by applying the laws of the game and this just isn't happening. Far too many examples to mention but Saturdays was right up there with the worst decisions to ever come out of VAR. Instead of just the Ref's opinion its now a subjective committee involved - its a farce.

Not sure the Ref could see the incident clearly, but where the fuck was the lines man / person? it wasn't just outside the box - it was a good yard outside

It then goes to VAR and then to fuck with the ridiculous reasons / excuse as to why no red card.

Either the VAR officials are wholly incompetent and as such should never be involved with VAR again, or its corruption in plain sight. My money is on the latter.

The club should speak up about this, not least for the sake of the 1000's of blues there on Saturday spending their hard earned supporting the Team and club and the rest of us watching the game on the box.

Yes, absolutely. Sending Henderson off would have spoilt the game for whom exactly? I suspect those who believe it were referring to those encouraged by the media to hope City lost because "they've not been punished for the 115 charges" or because "City have got a lot of money" or because "Crystal Palace haven't won anything in their 'istry" or because City "have won everything - it's Palace's turn". It would not have spoilt the game for those who believe the officials should guarantee fair play and believe that games should not be refereed to keep armchair fans glued to the screen. Oh, and some City fans who want their team to win the cup. But apparently one involved in VAR wasn't a City fan at all ... I don't, of course, wish to suggest that that might be why VAR didn't have the penalty retaken.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

Was it actually shown on the screen at Wembley ? I wasn't there so don't know. I'd be astounded if it was shown on the Wembley screens.

I meant the pitchside screen. The VAR team should have directed Atwell to the screen.

 

[Manc Born & Bred]

For those who say the assistant VAR has no influence I give you Sian Massey - Ellis. And the liner who said 'it's a handball by Haaland' from 40 yards away was one Darren Cann. He sees a handball from 40 yards through a couple of defenders but doesn't flag for an unobstructed view of one from half the distance!!

Match Officials Mic'd Up: Why VAR couldn't overturn Erling Haaland handball decision

Speaking on Match Officials Micd Up, PGMOL chief Howard Webb explains why Erling Haalands goal against Tottenham Hotspur was disallowed for a handball in the build-up.

www.skysports.com

 

[Ctidpaul]

The linesman was a good 7 or 8 yards behind play, ref wouldn't be able to see from his position. So it goes to VAR and how he/they could get it so wrong when they have the view of Henderson slapping the ball away off Haaland toe is just totally incomprehensible.

It’s quite simple,it’s the same useless wankers running var as on the pitch.lets face it Saturday just proves var in its current form isn’t fit for purpose

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

They’re right. The original decision from Shatwell was terrible, the VAR decision was terrible and the PIGMOL statement to justify it was utterly laughable. We should be making a noise about it because legitimate criticism is the only way this improves, and the ref’s body shouldn’t be allowed to get away with their own completely embarrassing justification.

The PGMOL statement is the worst element because it is just a lie. The ball was hit to the side by Henderson. Haaland would definitely have scored if that didn't happen. There were no defenders between him and the goal. It was just an open goal. This is just madness now. Some fans have paid £400 to watch this shit-show from the officials.

 

[Cassandra]

I agree with that.

I thought the process was relatively clear.

VAR should say "did you see the deliberate handball outside the area"
ref team presumably say "no"
VAR then says "then, this is a clear and obvious error, and could have denied a GSO, recommend monitor review to assess if it was GSO"

That means Atwell has to make the decision - red card or nothing.

The explanation given (quite quickly, no more than about 5 minutes) was this "not an obvious GSO, but a possible GSO". There isn't such a division in the VAR rules - it's GSO or not.
If VAR had said "no GSO" we'd disagree, but it would be clear. Instead they fudged it with something made-up, and that's the damning part.

As Lineker said, it was a decision aimed at keeping it 11 vs 11, with the added benefit of keeping Atwell away from the decision.

Unfortunately, that scenario is what you expect if the IFAB protocol was being followed or what the premier league / FA said in 2020 when VAR was being introduced. However those 'in the know' tell me that the English protocol does not allow any conversation where the on field referee can put his point of view until the VAR has considered whether to recommend a visit to the monitor.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

Neither Atwell or Cann were predominately to blame (the former I don’t think was to blame at all).

Jarred Gillet is the main one to blame who made the wrong decision.

We don't know who was to blame till we hear the tapes. It looks like the VAR team though. But Atwell should have looked at it on screen. He is the referee and that's his call surely.

 

[CityBrat64]

Not as incomprehensible as you might think.

Several years ago he was pulled from running the line in a City Palace game after this came out, but was allowed to his last game on the line in the 5-2 couple weeks ago. So it was probably his revenge

 

[Cellarite]

VAR finally lost the minimal credibility it had! The FA got what they wanted.............Wouldn't have suited their 'agenda' to have a club they are in conflict with win their Cup. Just like when MCFC won the PL and Masters didn't show up to present the trophy!

What conflict are we in with the FA? I haven’t heard of this.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Unfortunately, that scenario is what you expect if the IFAB protocol was being followed or what the premier league / FA said in 2020 when VAR was being introduced. However those 'in the know' tell me that the English protocol does not allow any conversation where the on field referee can put his point of view until the VAR has considered whether to recommend a visit to the monitor.

That's the first I've heard of that, sounds counter-productive though.

 

[CityBrat64]

VAR finally lost the minimal credibility it had! The FA got what they wanted.............Wouldn't have suited their 'agenda' to have a club they are in conflict with win their Cup. Just like when MCFC won the PL and Masters didn't show up to present the trophy!

Stephen Warnock this morning was livid that VAR with the video could get the decision so wrong. What's the point in VAR when they can't get obvious decision like this right

 

[BossHog]

I’m not sure that’s true. He was one of the linesmen in our game against Palace in the league a few weeks ago (and Gillett was the onfield ref).

I think someone alluded to him not being allowed to do the semi’s in one of these threads.