Is the league, for want of a better word, ‘bent’?

[ojeme]

I suppose Spurs fans think it is bent with Rodri not getting a second yellow card yesterday.

A red card few minutes to the end of the game and a much earlier incorrectly awarded goal cannot weigh the same. If you were to be at the receiving end of either of the injustices which one would you rather take? A wrongly awarded goal to your opponent or a red card to your player when you’re 2-1 up with few minutes to play?

 

[Pedestrian]

Difference between dodgy (ie shit/incompetant etc) and what the title of the thread suggests - ie bent

It’s definitely bent. All professional sport has an element of persuasion. We’re also a bit hitty/missy at the moment which makes it matter a bit more. Have a look a the bad sports library of documentaries on Netflix. It’s all sport.

 

[meltonblue]

No.

 

[Corky]

It the PL was corrupt one of the other revolving shareholders would have exposed it by now.

All 19 or 21 having meetings about City, kept it quiet for almost 34 years.

 

[chaddblue]

A red card few minutes to the end of the game and a much earlier incorrectly awarded goal cannot weigh the same. If you were to be at the receiving end of either of the injustices which one would you rather take? A wrongly awarded goal to your opponent or a red card to your player when you’re 2-1 up with few minutes to play?

The funny thing is there's a million dippers on X bringing up the 'handball' at Goodison

You know.. the one that hit his arm above the sleeve and if a penalty had been given, then VAR would have overturned it and given offside against Richarlison

It's lovely to be reminded that 4 years later this still kills them

 

[Revolver]

Spurs first goal does make you wonder what’s going on.

But no I don’t think it’s bent. They are just not very good at their jobs the people using VAR.

I am more annoyed at our second half habit of sitting back and allowing teams to come on to us.

 

[Ho Chi Man City]

They’re pivotal to the fans that see them. Nobody is right here. Nobody. We have a huge hysteria of paranoid fans who believe everyone and everything is against us.

So do the other 19 clubs in the league.

Nobody is right.

So by definition “everybody” is wrong?

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

So by definition “everybody” is wrong?

Yes. As I said earlier, there is no rational thinking when it comes to a supporters club.

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

So by definition “everybody” is wrong?

Yes. As I said earlier, there is no rational thinking when it comes to a supporters

 

[Allnightlong]

It the PL was corrupt one of the other revolving shareholders would have exposed it by now.

All 19 or 21 having meetings about City, kept it quiet for almost 34 years.

As Prestwich Blue has alluded to it goes on.
Also look at other countries esp Italy.
Tv pundits keep toeing the party line as they know it keeps the money coming in……shareholders are no different.
Why do ex refs sign ngo’s ?

 

[bluemanchester]

Correct.
Its not corrupt, we just have laws of the game that can be interpreted differently from ref to ref and total ineptitude.

Its just another example of football eating itself from the inside

Except, except corners and free kicks into the penalty area, where every referee, every single one, is on the same page. It's as though they have all been told to ignore all the holding, blocking and wrestling. Decisions that are handing the title to arsenal, because they are so good at the above tactics that are ignored by every referee.

 

[Gordyola]

They’re pivotal to the fans that see them. Nobody is right here. Nobody. We have a huge hysteria of paranoid fans who believe everyone and everything is against us.

So do the other 19 clubs in the league.

Nobody is right.

Paranoid? I’m not surprised with the number of contentious decisions over the seasons which have ramped up of late
Name any club and give examples of decisions similar and as crucial as we have suffered

We all get on the ref’s backs during games and think we know ans see better only to see on tv that the ref was right! Im talking about routine fouls What we have suffered is major decisions that have clearly influenced outcomes of games be that by the ref or VAR. I give you three examples where City were likely were robbed of four points and a likely Cup win As some one posted above the late whistle by Hopper, the goal at OT where offside Rashford nursed the ball and the Henderson handball outside the box in the cup final

 

[Platt Lane 59]

Except, except corners and free kicks into the penalty area, where every referee, every single one, is on the same page. It's as though they have all been told to ignore all the holding, blocking and wrestling. Decisions that are handing the title to arsenal, because they are so good at the above tactics that are ignored by every referee.

Not sure the Premier League can instruct officials to stop or start penalising, mid season, the penalty area wrangling at set-pieces ?
So Arsenal will get away with it this season.
But, as it's been such an obvious advantage, surely there will stricter guidelines next season.
Non-entry of the six-yard box, until a free kick or corner has been taken, would be a start ?

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

Paranoid? I’m not surprised with the number of contentious decisions over the seasons which have ramped up of late
Name any club and give examples of decisions similar and as crucial as we have suffered

We all get on the ref’s backs during games and think we know ans see better only to see on tv that the ref was right! Im talking about routine fouls What we have suffered is major decisions that have clearly influenced outcomes of games be that by the ref or VAR. I give you three examples where City were likely were robbed of four points and a likely Cup win As some one posted above the late whistle by Hopper, the goal at OT where offside Rashford nursed the ball and the Henderson handball outside the box in the cup final

Fans of other clubs will, and can pull up such examples. We would call bollocks to them as they’re not fir ir against us.

Thats how it works. Nobody is right, unless it’s your club and you think you are bang to rights in your analysis. Football eh?

 

[Platt Lane 59]

Paranoid? I’m not surprised with the number of contentious decisions over the seasons which have ramped up of late
Name any club and give examples of decisions similar and as crucial as we have suffered

We all get on the ref’s backs during games and think we know ans see better only to see on tv that the ref was right! Im talking about routine fouls What we have suffered is major decisions that have clearly influenced outcomes of games be that by the ref or VAR. I give you three examples where City were likely were robbed of four points and a likely Cup win As some one posted above the late whistle by Hopper, the goal at OT where offside Rashford nursed the ball and the Henderson handball outside the box in the cup final

What about the two-fisted attack by the Trafford Tramps goalie (Onana ?) against Wolves from a set-piece ?
The Wolves attacker was physically attacked.
Nothing given...

 

[Corky]

As Prestwich Blue has alluded to it goes on.
Also look at other countries esp Italy.
Tv pundits keep toeing the party line as they know it keeps the money coming in……shareholders are no different.
Why do ex refs sign ngo’s ?

So it is gossip from another fan? Therefore zero evidence.

So City are in on it as a shareholder?

NGO like Amnesty International? Not the most erudite in the area.

 

[knuckles]

I don’t think there’s some secret, organised conspiracy against City, but I do think there’s something more subtle and systemic going on. If major media organisations are dominated by people who grew up supporting the old top four, that inevitably shapes the narratives that get repeated. Over time, those narratives turn into “common sense” — who the big clubs are, who is framed as heritage, and who is treated as an outsider or disruptor. That kind of bias doesn’t need coordination or intent, it just emerges from culture, incentives, and repetition.

Refs and VAR officials don’t operate in a vacuum either. They’re human, reputationally exposed, and fully aware of which decisions will dominate headlines and phone-ins for days. On top of that, it’s an open secret that some referees have supported old top-four clubs at various points in their lives, yet still officiate City games. Even if you believe they’re trying to be neutral, the combination of personal background, media pressure, and asymmetrical outrage means marginal calls can drift towards the least controversial outcome without anyone consciously deciding to favour anyone. That’s not the same as institutional bias or fixing, but it is systemic pressure — and for City fans it feels sharper because City disrupted the old hierarchy without the historical goodwill the media still trades in. The frustration isn’t paranoia, it’s the result of watching an inconsistent system that rarely explains itself or holds itself properly to account.

 

[ctwrd]

A red card few minutes to the end of the game and a much earlier incorrectly awarded goal cannot weigh the same. If you were to be at the receiving end of either of the injustices which one would you rather take? A wrongly awarded goal to your opponent or a red card to your player when you’re 2-1 up with few minutes to play?

The first was incredibly soft. Bit like the so called Dias red at forest, was never a free kick for the first. Why focus on the 2nd yellow in these instances?

 

[bluemanchester]

Not sure the Premier League can instruct officials to stop or start penalising, mid season, the penalty area wrangling at set-pieces ?
So Arsenal will get away with it this season.
But, as it's been such an obvious advantage, surely there will stricter guidelines next season.
Non-entry of the six-yard box, until a free kick or corner has been taken, would be a start ?

Thanks for the reply. If it is changed next season it means they have allowed it to continue this season knowing the laws of the game are not been followed by the referees. Look how quickly the goal against Villa and Rashfords shadowing were dealt with, a goal like that again would not be allowed next time not next season. Any other team except the red tops been successful with arsenals tactics would not be allowed. No ref is applying the laws of the game, not one.

 

[Rhapsody in Blue]

We have to stop the fucking excuses to try and paper over the cracks that we are playing like shit. Excuses are for losers. No way Fourmidables and Centurions would complain about stuff like this. It doesn't look good. Score more goals and concede less instead.