The 2024/25 Premier League season has been dominated by Liverpool’s sensible begin beneath Arne Slot, Manchester United’s continued fall from grace, Nottingham Forest’s unlikely Champions League bid and contentious refereeing choices.
The latter is usually the principle speaking level come Saturday night, not to mention Monday morning. William Saliba’s contentious penalty towards Brighton noticed the referees beneath the highlight as soon as once more final weekend, whereas Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall was the centre of controversy within the EFL Cup when he maybe should have walked earlier than his late winner towards Liverpool.
Right here, FootballFanCast seems at 11 of probably the most controversial refereeing choices of the present Premier League marketing campaign, and why they’ve left gamers, managers and followers alike indignant.
Associated
10 of the worst referee mistakes in football history
Some say it is the toughest job in soccer, however these refs bought it actually, actually flawed.
11
Declan Rice second yellow v Brighton
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Declan Rice was despatched off throughout Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton in August after being proven a second yellow card after poking the ball away from Joel Veltman as he ready to take a free-kick.
Whereas by the letter of the legislation, the choice was appropriate, it incensed many Arsenal followers, and has continued to take action as a result of different similar incidents have since gone unpunished.
Even referee Chris Kavanagh, who confirmed Rice the purple, mentioned he “didn’t like” the decision, but “had no choice”.
10
Pedro Neto penalty declare v Crystal Palace
Referee: Tim Robinson
Chelsea have been 1-0 up towards Crystal Palace when Pedro Neto and Tyrick Mitchell sprinted in direction of a unfastened ball simply inside Palace’s penalty space.
Neto beat Mitchell to the ball, poking it away along with his toe, whereas Mitchell missed it, as a substitute connecting with Neto’s legs and sending him to the bottom.
Match official Tim Robinson judged Mitchell to have pretty gained the ball, as did the VAR. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, later informed Sky Sports activities that he would have pointed to the spot.
9
Ait-Nouri handball declare v Nottingham Forest
Referee: Peter Bankes
Viewers have been left puzzled as to why Rayan Ait-Nouri was not penalised for what gave the impression to be a blatant handball throughout Wolves’ 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest.
Referee Peter Bankes dismissed appeals for a penalty after Ola Aina’s cross struck Ait-Nouri’s arm. VAR checked the incident and agreed with the on-field resolution.
After the sport, a tweet from the Premier League Match Centre account revealed that Ait-Nouri had escaped punishment as a result of his arm was deemed to have been in a pure place when the ball struck it. An attention-grabbing name, to say the least.
8
Jhon Duran purple v Newcastle
Newcastle United 3-0 Aston Villa, December 26
Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran was despatched off when he was deemed to have deliberately stamped on Magpies defender Fabian Schar throughout Villa’s 3-0 loss at St James’ Park.
Whereas some, together with within the video beneath, agreed that it was proper for the Colombian to be despatched off, others, together with former Villa star Dean Saunders, have been outraged.
“There was no intent!” raged Saunders on TalkSPORT. “If you happen to watch, Duran is attempting to get to the ball previous Schar.”
Duran reacted angrily to his sending-off on the time, kicking a water bottle as he left the pitch and having to be restrained by a member of Villa’s backroom workers. He was later charged by the FA with improper conduct.
7
Ebere Eze disallowed purpose v Brentford
Referee: Sam Barrott
Crystal Palace midfielder Ebere Eze was controversially denied a superb free-kick purpose within the Eagles’ 2-1 defeat to Brentford again in August.
Eze had scored immediately from a large free-kick with the sport goalless, however referee Sam Barrott had blown the whistle earlier than the ball crossed the road for a foul by Palace’s Will Hughes.
Due to the early whistle, VAR was unable to overview Hughes’ supposed foul, or Eze’s purpose.
Eze later claimed that Barrott admitted to creating an error by disallowing his purpose, telling BBC’s Match of the Day: “I used to be informed [by the referee] that he blew too early and made the error. It might have modified the sport however we have now to cope with it.”
6
Issa Diop foul v Liverpool
Referee: Tony Harrington
Liverpool followers have been left baffled when Fulham defender Issa Diop wasn’t proven a purple card throughout the Reds’ 2-2 draw with the Cottagers in mid-December.
Whereas difficult Andy Robertson for a bouncing ball, the French defender missed the ball and as a substitute sunk his studs into the knees of the Scotsman, leaving him writhing in ache on the ground. Diop was solely proven a yellow card by referee Tony Harrington, with the VAR deciding towards overturning the unique name.
So as to add insult to damage, Robertson was later despatched off for a problem on Harry Wilson.
5
Leandro Trossard second yellow v Man Metropolis
Referee: Michael Oliver
Weeks after Declan Rice’s dismissal towards Brighton, Leandro Trossard left his Gunners teammates in the same pickle after being given a second warning, which additionally got here from delaying the restart following a foul.
Main 2-1 towards champions Manchester Metropolis moments earlier than half-time, the Belgian barged into Bernardo Silva, with referee Michael Oliver awarding the house facet a free-kick.
Trossard appeared to kick the ball away after the whistle, which Oliver took as in search of to delay the restart of play regardless of Silva being inclined on the time, whereas the winger protested his innocence as he could have been seeking to set Gabriel Martinelli clear.
It was actually on the pettier facet as purple playing cards go, and it was made all of the extra sickening for Arsenal on condition that Mateo Kovacic had escaped the same punishment for a pair of extra egregious misdemeanours in a earlier assembly (beneath Oliver) – even earlier than they have been pegged again by a late equaliser.
Associated
Every Premier League team’s worst referee
Which referees are stuffed with dangerous omens and stunning statistics? FFC breaks down every PL membership’s least-wanted referee.
4
Matthijs de Ligt foul v West Ham
Referee: David Coote
In what proved to be Erik ten Hag’s final sport answerable for Manchester United, the Crimson Devils have been tied with West Ham at one purpose apiece when United defender Matthijs de Ligt conceded a late penalty.
Referee David Coote didn’t initially give a spot-kick, nevertheless it was overturned by VAR official Michael Oliver, who adjudged De Ligt to have fouled Hammers striker Danny Ings.
Jarrod Bowen stepped up and fired house, sealing victory for West Ham. Ten Hag was sacked lower than 24 hours later.
Former Premier League referee Howard Webb, who’s chief of refereeing physique PGMOL, informed Premier League’s Match Officers Mic’d Up present that he thought the decision to award the penalty was incorrect.
“I feel it is a scenario the place we might depart the on-field resolution as it’s, in all probability whichever means it is known as. On stability, I do not suppose it is a penalty kick,” he mentioned.
We suspect that United followers could also be grateful it was given.
3
William Saliba foul v Brighton
Referee: Anthony Taylor
“I’ve by no means seen a choice like this in my profession,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said after his facet conceded a penalty towards Brighton.
With Arsenal main 1-0 because of Ethan Nwaneri’s purpose, Joao Pedro went to floor following a conflict of heads with Saliba whereas each contested a looping ball.
Referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty and the VAR noticed no purpose to overturn his unique name.
Nonetheless, different angles of the incident appeared to indicate Saliba getting a contact on the ball earlier than catching the Brazilian, which is what angered Arteta, whose facet in the end dropped two factors due to the choice.
2
Pervis Estupinan problem v West Ham
Referee: Rob Jones
Late on in West Ham’s current draw with Brighton, Hammers defender Maximilian Kilman superior the ball into midfield solely to be met by a flying Pervis Estupinan, who appeared to depart the ground with each toes, clattering into Kilman along with his studs up.
Referee Rob Jones instantly produced a yellow card, nevertheless it was then checked by VAR official Paul Tierney. His resolution? Someway, no purple card.
1
Joao Pedro elbow v Brentford
Referee: Andy Madley
Brighton’s draw with Brentford in late December could have lacked targets, nevertheless it did give start to probably the most controversial refereeing resolution of the season thus far, which as soon as once more concerned Brighton and Joao Pedro.
Late within the match, Brentford’s Yehor Yarmoliuk prevented a Brighton breakaway by pulling Pedro’s shirt. The Brazilian responded by swinging his proper elbow within the route of the midfielder’s face, however thankfully missed.
Andy Madley gave Yarmoliuk a yellow card for his indiscretion, however the referee was then informed by VAR Chris Kavanagh to cease play whereas Joao Pedro’s retaliation was checked. Regardless of replays clearly displaying that he had tried to elbow Yarmoliuk, it was deemed unfit of a purple card.
Had Pedro linked with Yarmolyuk, the implications might have been dire, similar to the choice to let him keep on the sector was.
