Ref Watch

[colin's bell helmet]

And that's not corruption?

I wouldn't say he's corrupt he's just a terrible ref backed up by another terrible ref on VAR duty. If anything in the future has either of these 2 twats involved in betting syndicates then that's a different matter. Attwell spent years out of the premier league because of how inept he was and he's clearly no better for it based on his performance in the game the other night. Is being a spineless bastard being corrupt? I don't know I get your point though.

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

Look again at the challenge by a Brighton player on Jesus in the second half, just inside the Brighton half, just past the half way line. Jesus beats his man and turns back towards his own half. The Brighton player, for no reason, kicks out at Jesus, sending him to the floor. It wasn't an attempt for the ball as the ball is on the half way line at this point. Jesus throws his arms up in frustration.

Attwell sees everything. He is in the perfect position. He raises his whistle to his mouth, but doesn't blow. Play continues. Attwell looks round to check on Jesus. Fernandinho fouls the Brighton player and receives a caution.

The correct decision here was for Attwell to blow for a foul on Jesus, then caution or dismiss the Brighton player. He was about to give the foul. What changed his mind? There can be only one explanation - CHEATING. For some reason, he decided not to penalise a clear foul on a City player. There were loads of similar instances of this cheating during the game. Far too many to put this down to incompetence or innocent mistakes.

If he is a total idiot incompetent then there is another explanation. I understand why it cou ld be called cheating but I fail to see whats been gained from a dead rubber match

For me what's more worrying is the near total silence on the refs performance. He could have been cheating but no one looks or investigates!

 

[Akira]

I wouldn't say he's corrupt he's just a terrible ref backed up by another terrible ref on VAR duty. If anything in the future has either of these 2 twats involved in betting syndicates then that's a different matter. Attwell spent years out of the premier league because of how inept he was and he's clearly no better for it based on his performance in the game the other night. Is being a spineless bastard being corrupt? I don't know I get your point though.

A quick Google tells me his demotion was in 2012. That's fooking 9 years ago. It's sad that in 9 years he hadn't improved an inch as a referee.

Bastard should be refereeing Sunday leagues instead.

 

[colin's bell helmet]

A quick Google tells me his demotion was in 2012. That's fooking 9 years ago. It's sad that in 9 years he hadn't improved an inch as a referee.

Bastard should be refereeing Sunday leagues instead.

Exactly the twat has learned nothing, can't believe he's back in the Premier league... They must be desperate for refs to have that clown back.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

I wouldn't say he's corrupt he's just a terrible ref backed up by another terrible ref on VAR duty. If anything in the future has either of these 2 twats involved in betting syndicates then that's a different matter. Attwell spent years out of the premier league because of how inept he was and he's clearly no better for it based on his performance in the game the other night. Is being a spineless bastard being corrupt? I don't know I get your point though.

I remember him, and someone else I've forgotten, getting 'fast tracked' into the PL but fuck knows where he came from, and I thought at the time that a 28yr old PL ref clearly hasn't got anything like the experience that would be needed to ref any PL game, and I think that's how it's turned out. PiGMOL must be desperate for bodies to cover matches, fourth official duties AND the VAR shed, so we end up with personnel who are just not up to the job. People are still suggesting that it isn't corruption that delivered the abortion of refereeing we saw at Brighton, but it's certainly a dereliction on the part of PiGMOL to foist the likes of Attwell into a PL match, even one where points are irrelevant. His performance was beyond abysmal.

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

I still keep finding myself saying to my sons,”don’t worry that won’t be given, or will be, VAR will see it and give the right decision “. I must be getting more stupid as I get older because more and more VAR is just a tool to back up the original decision of the on field ref, which obviously isn’t always right.

Football decisions STILL have the same "WTF" feeling as they did pre VAR days. So why not just get rid of it!

It has actually made things worse imo, because nowadays they can forensically investigate stuff and then apply those rules selectively. I preferred it when it was just the ref fucking up... and not 6 refs and a fkin Match Commander deciding what is and what isnt a handball.

VAR IS actually ruining the game just by being there.

 

[BamberBridgeBlue]

Looks like the concerns of Manchester City fans has been listened to. PGMOL have asked Peter Walton to come out of retirement specifically to referee City games to ensure we don’t have to endure Twatwell again.

 

[Holcombe bloo]

The Twitter link showing the foul on the Jesus, a few posts back, confirms to me that this is corruption. Attwell sees the foul, and is about to blow. (Reminiscent of Luiz v Aguero). He then turns round and lets play continue, with Brighton in possession. Attwell then looks back at Jesus, who is on the floor, before continuing to follow play. Play stops following the Fernandinho foul.

Look at the Brighton player that kicks Jesus, and where the ball is in relation to the "challenge". It is clear that he has no intention of playing the ball. It is just a dangerous kick out at Jesus.

Under the Laws of the Game, this is a definite foul, at least a yellow card, and potentially a red card. There is absolutely no rational reason why Attwell didn't penalise this foul, because he saw it and was about to penalise it.

It is almost as if the Brighton player knew he could perform this foul with impunity. Maybe he could. Maybe the other guy that fouled Gundogan knew that he could commit any foul and the maximum punishment would be a yellow card.

But for Attwell to see the foul, instinctively go to penalise it, and change his mind, to me, says he was carrying out instructions from someone else. This needs to be explained, or even investigated.

do you know what minute this was, wouldn’t mind watching it again Ta.

 

[SilverFox2]

If he is a total idiot incompetent then there is another explanation. I understand why it cou ld be called cheating but I fail to see whats been gained from a dead rubber match

Old habits die hard and a reminder to City that the FL still resents the combo of us and our main owner.
Blatent incompetance, biased ref, corruption RE betting, take your pick.
Any way you choose did not provoke any media comment which demonstrates that media bias continues.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

If he is a total idiot incompetent then there is another explanation. I understand why it cou ld be called cheating but I fail to see whats been gained from a dead rubber match

For me what's more worrying is the near total silence on the refs performance. He could have been cheating but no one looks or investigates!

The result in terms of overall league positions is irrelevant, but imagine for a moment if there was a pattern of Far Eastern betting Syndicates lumping money on City to have a player sent off before half time, or City winning at half time/losing at full time, or City losing 3-2, or giving away a foul throw, or even all of those potential outcomes?

Those officials are in the perfect position to try and make sure that happens, and when you witnessed some of those utterly baffling decisions you have to be concerned that potentially what we witnessed was corruption.