Referees' Performances | 2025/26

[cheekybids]

Feels like we've really suffered in recent weeks from what feels like a new directive, which is to "let the game flow" and "not interfere" - to the point where some free-kicks and cards just aren't being given.

& yet other teams are getting so many set pieces around the box they are painting murals of the set piece coaches.

 

[hello]

Just one of those incidents where it’s easy for a ref to influence the game without doing anything wrong: he gives Brighton the advantage after a (supposed) foul, the Brighton player advances unchallenged, plays a through ball but overcooks it and it runs through to Donnarumma, ref pulls it back for a free kick. Brighton had the advantage and wasted it.

TBF that's exactly how an advantage should be played. the problem is that its a rarity and certainly one that wouldn't be applied if it was a city player fucking up the pass.

 

[cheekybids]

The actions of the referee can and does effect team performances. We've seen it on numerous occasions.

Of course it does, if every time a player beats a defender only to be pulled back without a booking stops us scoring.

 

[Gordyola]

The actions of the referee can and does effect team performances. We've seen it on numerous occasions.

Very much so The clown last night was blocking the passing lanes either deliberately or just incompetently

 

[Saddleworth2]

Feels like we've really suffered in recent weeks from what feels like a new directive, which is to "let folk kick the shit out of City players" and "not interfere" - to the point where some free-kicks and cards just aren't being given.

Edited for accuracy mate.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Let's see how an EFL ref works on Saturday. Being the FA Cup he might not get the same briefing from Webb.

 

[elbearos]

Very much so The clown last night was blocking the passing lanes either deliberately or just incompetently

Yes,i was shouting at him all game to move

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

I normally say play to the whistle, get on with it etc but last night their number 24 had his hands all over Bernardo at a corner so for me its a penalty. Haaland flicks on the corner for a certain goal but the same 24 gets back & clears off the line. Gggrrrr!!!

 

[Norbiton]

TBF that's exactly how an advantage should be played. the problem is that its a rarity and certainly one that wouldn't be applied if it was a city player fucking up the pass.

Not sure about that. Once the team given the advantage has a clear passage of play unaffected by the transgression the option to pull the game back for the free kick should no longer apply surely? I know there’s a notional period of time to elapse, but that seemed to have passed as well

 

[blue b4 the moon]

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Let's see how an EFL ref works on Saturday. Being the FA Cup he might not get the same briefing from Webb.

If he refs it like a lower division game they'll be kicking us all over if they have the urge, even Prem refs allow more 'contact' in FA cup games.

 

[Norbiton]

Is there VAR on Saturday?

 

[TinFoilHat]

Is there VAR on Saturday?

No.

 

[i kne albert davy]

Is there VAR on Saturday?

Does it matter as we saw in the final VAR didn't do us much of a favour.

 

[bluetonium]

Just seen that Van Hecke challenge on Haaland back, I mean one of several of his challenges, the one where he ends up swinging from Haaland neck , arms round his windpipe, and using gravity to pull his neck down to the grass.

Honestly, am I alone in thinking that's really, really bad. As in, endangering player safety and probably only the fact Haaland has an abnormally strong neck has saved a very serious injury there. Is retrospective action no longer a thing? Seems both the ref and var missed him trying to break Haaland's neck!

 

[Dereck Jeffries 3 wd]

Good on Bernardo for trying to stop it.

City should send this in to the Premier League. And ask what are there doing about it? We cannot keep accepting the treatment we get from these bent officials.

 

[TinFoilHat]

 

[TinFoilHat]

Just seen that Van Hecke challenge on Haaland back, I mean one of several of his challenges, the one where he ends up swinging from Haaland neck , arms round his windpipe, and using gravity to pull his neck down to the grass.

Honestly, am I alone in thinking that's really, really bad. As in, endangering player safety and probably only the fact Haaland has an abnormally strong neck has saved a very serious injury there. Is retrospective action no longer a thing? Seems both the ref and var missed him trying to break Haaland's neck!

The **** did it in the game at theirs as well.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

The **** did it in the game at theirs as well.

That's why Earl flattened him early doors when he was obstructing him chasing a back pass.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

Very much so The clown last night was blocking the passing lanes either deliberately or just incompetently

When you catch the **** looking for the space, you know it's deliberate.

The **** did it mid-second half in the Chelsea game when Doku had the ball down in the left corner, and I think it was Foden (I might me wrong) was free in space near the edge of the box and I watched the ref look at Doku then look at Foden and then drop his shoulder and and rolled into position directly in the passing line. I was fucking fuming when I saw it.