https://twitter.com/leemarkjudges/status/1280930562841219072?s=20
Morning all.
I’ve posted the above link from Twitter because it proves just how inconsistent the officiating is in the Premier League and how VAR is only as good as the person behind it at the time.
Burnley’s James Tarkowski was shown a yellow card and VAR saw no reason to to upgrade it. If they even bothered to review it of course. West Ham lost the game 1-0, a result which might have been different had they faced ten men for the remaining 30 odd minutes. Even just salvaging a point might make a difference to their battle against relegation.
I’m sure we’ve all read by now that the club plan to appeal against Nketiah’s red card which is great if the decision is overturned, but for us, the damage is already done. 11 v 11, Arsenal were on top and in my opinion, were unlikely to drop points against Leicester but once Eddie was shown the exit card, the balance of the game changed.
Also, Jamie Vardy seems to have escaped any FA enquiry after his dreadful treatment of Mustafi. Again though, a retrospective three match ban would do Arsenal no favours, for the players hoping to pick up the golden boot award, it would.
How can this be deemed acceptable or accidental by Chris Kavanagh, the referee for our game? How on earth could VAR let it go unpunished and now, how can the FA think that this is ok. What message is sending out to not only the professionals in the game but kids out there in the real world?
This isn’t me trying to suggest Arsenal need these kind of decisions to go our way because of any Champions League hopes. Not at all because personally I believe we’re where we are now because Arsenal as a club were too slow to react to the problems going on under Unai Emery, just as they were with Arsene Wenger. This is about fairness, consistency and getting decisions right. These are just three incidents in two fixtures, all of which have been dealt with differently.
No one is perfect, we know that. That’s why technology has been brought into sport but I don’t know of any other sport other than football, or rather football in England, in which it’s failing. Is VAR as bad across the rest of the top European Leagues?
We talk about accountability in the game, certainly we Arsenal fans have over recent years but who in this sport is asking the right questions about the English officials? Who is likely to be banging on Mike Riley’s door this morning (metaphorically speaking) demanding to know why his staff are getting things so badly wrong? Why are the English referees so inconsistent with their decision making? Why is VAR failing?
The Premier League brags of being the best in the world. It’s where every top player wants to play. It’s the elite of the elite. (I beg to differ) Where is the elitism in game as far as officiating goes?
Mike Riley has been head of the PGMOL for eleven years now and he’s done little, if anything to improve the standard of officiating in the game in my opinion. Is he above being sacked?
Yes, I’m pretty naffed off.
Arsenal have according to headlines on NN, offered Malang Sarr a contract. The 21 year old, French left footed centre back or left back is free to move wherever he likes as his contract with Nice has just expired.
Here he is in action.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3Mb-dmcc3ys
My Thursday waffle is done, see you in the comments…
Don’t forget also that Riley was the ref at Old Trafford when our unbeaten run came to an end, and that he was the man who couldn’t wait to award Rooney a penalty for diving. He was absolutely terrified of Ferguson, and if I remember correctly, awarded 5 or 6 penalties at Old Trafford, all to United, in as many appearances. Also, who can name a player, other than Auba at Crystal Palace and Eddie on Tuesday ethereal VAR has either advised or instructed a referee to extend a yellow card to a red?
Oh I haven’t forgotten John, I doubt anyone has..
I’ve a feeling there’s been another yellow upgraded to red this season but can’t recall who for. Regardless, there’s been very few yet some horrid tackles are still in the game.
WE as Gunners have had to accept this bias against our club for so many years that it never comes as a surprise when we get punished way above the offence commited. It is a fact that if every stat was shown to the public it would show that AFC get ye;low cards when others get a warnong (sometimes many warnings). We ger reds when yellow is probably the correct call and rarely get penalties when many of the top four or five teams get them for diving and screaming? I have been a Gunner for 71 years this year and have become hardended to this shocking bias. But, to see a young kid get sent off when simply going for the ball after four minutes on the pitch is going too far. I got the impression that this ref could not wait to punish us yet again. The fact that Vardy commited two agressive and intentional fouls without punishment just rubs it in even more. Then he scores an undeserved equaliser. This Ref has done what he intended ie probably lost us the chance of European football next season. Why do our club top men accept this without a fight? No one knows but it has to be sorted by the club officials or by the fans, one way or another.
Are we the only club though Pete? It feels that way for sure because much of the time we see it but do other clubs feel as hard done by?
What hasn’t helped is blokes like Pulis, Big Sam, Souness and every other bloke simply brushing us off as being soft. There’s a fine line between complaining and then being treated worse. Arsene Wenger round that out.
Very good post Rico and good morning…
Yes John and let’s not forget the FACup semi final when Riley allowed Man Utd to rotationally foul/boot Jose Antonio Reyes out of the game, but we know that the media are complicit.
I watched Match of the Day yesterday evening and the Nketiah/Vardy debate came up, Gary Lineker who apparently admitted that Nketiah shouldn’t have been sent off on his Twitter account after the game has suddenly changed his tune, Alan Shearer of course backed Vardy, but then Mr Professional Geordie wasn’t shy when it came to kicking opponents in the head, the other guy was Micah Richards and he spends most of the programme laughing, you know like BBC’s version of Paul Merson, so why take anything he says seriously.
MotD then skirted very quickly around the Tarkowski challenge because it obviously didn’t fit the narrative and there was of course no mention of the fact that Arsenal have received more yellows and reds than any other Premier League club this season – I mean isn’t that news to those tosspots, they loved going on about how many red cards Arsenal had picked up under Wenger, but no mention – I wonder why?
Super post, Rico 👍 Makes me think back to the Portsmouth fa cup game, Torreira’s fractured ankle and the guy wasn’t even booked!! They’re all bloody incompetent!!
David Moyes was furious last night and rightly so… they’ve not had much luck on their side either. I couldn’t bring myself to watch MOTD….
Good morning Rico.
I was never in favour of VAR mainly because of the interruption to the game’s flow. I never suspected that in operation VAR would be so inconsistent.
On reflection, this was always going to be the case seeing as how the personnel operating it are the same old faces who have been consistently inconsistent throughout their refereeing careers.
Nothing is going to change so long as the CCfMO (Cosy Club for Mediocre Officials), otherwise known a Stockley Park, is allowed to operate in the way it has from day one.
A single VAR should be appointed for each match, he/she should work in complete isolation from the others and there should be no interaction between VARs or other personnel other than to review their involvement after th watch has ended.
Whilst Reilly is in charge, there will be no change and no improvement.
Morning Kev, thanks.
These so called pundits tend to run with the fox and the hounds. I bet Shearer, the man who threw a ball at Keane to get him sent off would have been protesting had it been his head Vardy connected with, same goes for the other idiots who believe something like that is ‘part of the game’.
I thought Eddie should have seen red but then Vardy should too. Consistency is all most of ask for.
Thanks Rico.
Correct me if I`m wrong, but isn`t there a stat that says we are 1st for most red cards, 1st for most bookings , but 14th for most fouls !………………………..bit like me, 1st for most likes on SAGA Hunk of the Month, 1st as most dateable for a cream tea at the Womans Institute Lunch, but with with 46 years driving experience and a clean license I cant get a part time delivery driver job at Iceland after 14 attempts!
Thanks Sue. I think of Pepe too who was battered by Bournemouth’s left back whose name escapes me right now. He, and Saka next season will be targeted I’m sure.
Good morning Rico and thanks for the write up. I thought VAR was going to bring consistency into our game but rather it is becoming inconsistent and discriminatory. Time to look at it again. The last bit about the young Frenchman, Sarr will be a good addition as he is a center/left back. At 22 his age is also good for us.
Morning Cicero. I was the opposite, totally for VAR. I had hoped though that the media etc would be doing more to highlight the problems, and that someone somewhere would be holding these officials accountable. That’s the problem imo, not the technology itself.
Morning Paddy, ditto re Var. I feel cheated, twice.
Little to lose re Sarr imo, if he’s not right, at least we can sell him. Would probably mean Kolasinac is on his way.
Morning Rico and all. Nice post Rico. I caught a clip of a Wenger press conference yesterday where he highlighted the fact that no English refs were considered good enough for a recent major tournament. I think he also hinted that the whole system was corrupt and that this was widely recognised.
There are just too many inconsistencies for it to be anything else.
If a red card decision is based on intent then Eddie shouldn’t have gone. If intent is irrelevant and only the outcome is judged then a look at Mustafi’s face tells you Vardy should have gone. Or is it a moveable feast where Arsenal are concerned?
I think we all know the answer to that.
Man Utd in the Premier League this season:
0 red cards
59 yellow cards
2 penalties conceded
Arsenal:
5 red cards
78 yellow cards
7 penalties conceded
Man Utd have commited 370 fouls this season, Arsenal 358 fouls.
I’d love to see what Liverpool’s are!! As well as all the other favoured teams!!
Morning Adam. Thanks.
If anyone knows about the PL officials, it’s certainly Arsene Wenger. He suffered enough because of them.
I asked this yesterday but isn’t the word ‘reckless’ included in the laws of the game? If so, both should have gone and I actually feel that would have been the right outcome.
I don’t for one minute believe Eddie’s had intent. Naivety yes, intent, no. Vardy however, well only he knows.
Hi Rico and All Great right up Rico This how I see it, We are never going to change the attitude of the FA or Referees so Arsenal have 3 options 1 sit back and say nothing 2 if we really believe a player should not of got a red card and we challenge it but fail then take it straight to court 3 this one I do not like but when we play against a team that has some one in it who likes to play dirty and he deliberately takes out one of our players and does not get red carded then we make a change and bring on a crap player and have him take him out and if the FA complain just tell them it is their fault for not making referees responsible for bad / bias decisions
Here’s a link for VAR stats.
https://www.espn.co.uk/football/english-premier-league/story/3929823/how-var-decisions-have-affected-every-premier-league-club
Premier League Club Stats
Yellow Cards
RESET FILTERS
This table ranks teams based on the currently selected stat type
Rank Club Stat
1.
Arsenal
73
2.
Tottenham Hotspur
68
3.
Watford
68
4.
AFC Bournemouth
66
5.
Norwich City
64
6.
Burnley
62
7.
Aston Villa
60
8.
Everton
59
9.
Manchester United
59
10.
West Ham United
59
11.
Manchester City
58
12.
Newcastle United
57
13.
Chelsea
56
14.
Sheffield United
56
15.
Crystal Palace
53
16.
Brighton and Hove Albion
52
17.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
52
18.
Southampton
44
19.
Leicester City
37
20.
Liverpool
35
Premier League Club Stats
Red Cards
This table ranks teams based on the currently selected field.
Rank Club Stat
1.
Arsenal
5
2.
Manchester City
4
3.
Southampton
4
4.
AFC Bournemouth
3
5.
Everton
3
6.
Newcastle United
3
7.
Sheffield United
3
8.
Tottenham Hotspur
3
9.
Watford
3
10.
Brighton and Hove Albion
2
11.
Crystal Palace
2
12.
West Ham United
2
13.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
2
14.
Aston Villa
1
15.
Leicester City
1
16.
Liverpool
1
17.
Norwich City
1
So, we are top for both yellow and red cards. No surprise to see that.
Rico. It’s interesting that, when a new ref appears, he is generally pretty good and brings the welcome whiff of impartiality. As time goes on and he gets more experienced and presumably after meetings with Riley and fellow PL old-timers like Dean and Atkinson, he will generally start to become more like them in his bias as the subtleties of how to influence a game are pointed out to him. A nod here, an off-the-cuff remark there will leave him in no doubt that his future as a referee is dependent on ‘other’ things.
Hi Geoff. Thanks. The third option, although sounds idea, will never happen. Arsenal are better than that and the FA would soon start to dock points as a pattern unfolded.
Resolving the original problem is best for the game, not reacting to it by cheating imo.
Very true Adam. Oliver used to be decent, I think it was Friend who was pretty fair too but not any longer.
Mark Halsey spilled a few beans in his book, Clattenburg has offered a few tidbits too but until someone like them comes out and says it as it is, the game will remain corrupt.
Would anyone bet against a little brown envelope passing between Riley and club owners? I wouldn’t.
Rico. I imagine it’s a little more subtle than that. 😃
All men, apart from me, have their weaknesses. 😃
I wonder if Stoke, for example, would have more red and yellow cards than Arsenal and even more fouls.
I emphasized the total duality of criteria in the games with Leicester and with Brighton in the immediate. In this last game, there were serious refereeing errors that hurt Arsenal. In addition, there are fouls in favor of Arsenal during games that are not marked.
I gave my suggestion a long time ago: have non-British referees whistle games.
Rico I just looked at the VAR web site you put up and did I miss read / understand it. It say’s will not be reviewed any yellow cards so their under their own rule why was Eddie’s reviewed
😂Adam.
Geoff, I think it’s something to do with what’s deemed to be serious foul play.
Or just fair British referees Jm, overseen by a fair and unbiased PGMOL
Adam, you are truly a man we should all aspire to be…
Rico, where did you see that Wenger interview?
It was Adam who saw it Kev.
Ah, ok Rico 😄
Hey Adam, can I ask where you saw that Wenger interview? 🙂
I can’t remember Kev.
I might have dreamed it. 😴
Kev. I found it and forwarded it to you.
From arsenal.com
We are delighted to announce that Australia international Lydia Williams has joined us from Melbourne City FC.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper started her career at Canberra United FC in 2008, making 48 appearances for the club in her first spell. Lydia has since gone on to play for seven clubs across the world, from the NWSL in North America, to the Damallsvenskan in Sweden, making a further 147 appearances.
As the Matildas’ No 1, Lydia has made 88 international appearances and will now join up with compatriots Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord in north London.
“To be given an opportunity to come over and play with some of the best players in the world is really exciting,” Williams told Arsenal.com. “I remember watching Arsenal as a young kid, so It’s amazing to be a part of this team. I can’t wait to meet all of my teammates.”
“This is another really important signing for us,” said head coach Joe Montemurro. “With the wealth of experience that Lydia brings, she can help the younger players that we’ve got, but more importantly she’s a big game player that will be solid and really contribute to the group.”
The deal is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
Copyright
FIFA has taken full operational control of VAR’s, world football’s governing body has informed all associations.
So Arsene Wenger is going to have overall control of all the VAR’s, which I’m sure he’ll enjoy especially when he looks into the VAR operated by Mike Riley….
Dear old pals, jolly old pals….
Thanks Adam…
Interesting news. I wonder what it means in practice.
I remember the events of no referees being selected by fifa for the 2014? World Cup. The reason given by the governing body was that we had not one deemed to be of sufficient quality. I don’t think much has changed since.
The Eddie sending off will be argued that “the player was not in control” and thus “endangering an opponent ” but really they’ll concoct what ever reason the want so long as they can justify a three match ban! For the Arsenal it won’t turn out well, it never does for all the reasons outlined above.
Good summary Rico….of events!
Well I guess if anybody in any country has concerns about how their VAR is operated and how honest it is, in Wenger they’ll have an honest cop they can pass their worries onto.
But in general Adam, I reckon that FIFA will standardise the operations of VAR which may open the PGMOL to more scrutiny?
It needs it , The more these things happen , the more you have to consider that football is fixed.
Thanks Wavy.
That’s good news re FIFA. Isn’t it?
Ings is only 1 behind Auba now…. Nice to see Stoke are being annihilated 👍
For some strange reason I find myself sat here watching Bournemouth v the spuds…🥱 rubbish!
I switched the Bournemouth game on, then off again. Catching up on the Wimbledon rewind programmes.. love it.
Who’s your favourite tennis player then, Rico?
Now or in years gone by Sue?
Both, Rico 🙂
Back in my day Sue:
BJ King, Martina and Chris Evert
McEnroe, Nastasie, Connors.
Now.
Rafa and Roger
The Eastern European women seem to be playing the best tennis but I can’t name them all. Or spell them. 😂
The appeal failed…
Well well. What a bunch of gits!
Some big names there, Rico 👍 I used to love Becker and fancied Ivanisevic 😄 I don’t watch it as much now…. but I do like Rafa – reckon he has ocd?!
No surprise really, Rico….. the spuds drawing wasn’t a bad result though 😉
Fancied Ivan? Really? 😂😂
Not Tiger Tim then, the Oxfordshire boy… lol
Nope, no surprise really Sue. Bournemouth could have won it in the end.
Ooh yeah liked a bit of Goran, Rico 😁
Hahaha ooh no Tim wasn’t for me… he lives down the road from a friend of mine.
United’s penalty was rather dodgy…..
That is their 13th penalty this season!! 😳
Another penalty for PGMOL Utd, Riley making sure his boys make the top four before FIFA take over, but that Mason Greenwood looks a good player, he’s got one hell of a shot on him…
The PL have said all penalty decisions in last night’s games were wrong!! Doesn’t bode well for the weekend, does it?! Kane to be given one to compensate for it??
“When you’ve got a problem with one coach, with a second coach, with a third coach, I take it it might not be the coach.”
Jeremie Alladiere on Guendouzi.
Michael Oliver has been involved with two refused penalty shouts for Tottenham recently and so Mourinho is working on Oliver and will no doubt have something to say to him personally this Sunday at the Toilet Bowl, so be prepared as Sue says for a Tottenham penalty this weekend, it’s gonna happen.
Mourinho is in his element in these important one off games, so he’ll have his players super motivated as if this was a life or death match. We really need the win this Sunday, but I just don’t trust the PGMOL not to stitch us up again…
Saw this on the Gooner forum and made me have a wry smile,
Just heard on the radio that the FA Premier League have admitted that all three penalty calls in yesterday’s game were incorrect calls .Obviously VAR was involved , not having a good week VAR are you?
However they did go on to say that the penalty that will be awarded to Son in the NLD next Sunday will be fine.
Will we get another Martin Tyler moment ? That sums it all up/
Well just have to score a hat full before Kane or Son take their dive.. The world will be watching though…..
Afternoon all.
Just came across this on twitter:
Mourinho’s “everyone knows that’s a penalty” rant today was directed at VAR official Michael Oliver, who will be in charge of the NLD on Sunday and who has an odd record of awarding the opposition penalties when he referees Arsenal matches (10 for opponents, 2 for Arsenal).
Just read a story were premier league coaches are claiming that the game is much quicker than it used to be and that’s why the officials are having trouble keeping up and missing penalties.
Question if this is the true way coaches feel then should we change the rules and introduce another referee and have two main referees on the pitch at the same time, and each one does only his half and after half time the officials stay at the same end they started for ex sample would could have Mike dean doing our backline first half then he does our forward line the second half .
I thought so Kev.
If I were a cynic, Riley is out to prove it’s of no use. How much would he love to see the back of it…
Isn’t that what VAR is for?
From arsenal.com
Arsenal Women have signed Switzerland international defender Noelle Maritz from German club Wolfsburg on an undisclosed-length contract.
The 24-year-old had been with the German champions since 2013, helping them to five consecutive league titles.
She has earned 74 senior caps and joins fellow Swiss stars Lia Walti and Malin Gut at the Women’s Super League side.
“We’re ecstatic to have a player of Noelle’s calibre,” head coach Joe Montemurro told the club website.
“She’s been on our radar for the last six months because she’s very proactive going forward. She’s another player that’s played in Champions League finals and big games.”
Maritz added: “I’m really excited and so happy that I can play for such a huge club. I honestly can’t wait to just get started now and meet all of my new team-mates.
“This is a whole new challenge for me and I feel like it’s a great step in my career and development.”
If FIFA get they’re way Rico, we might see the back of Riley?
Roll on that day Kev
Monday morning will be when we find out if City are successful (or not) with their appeal…
I think they’ll win it Sue.
I do too, Rico
I hope they do Sue, keep one of the chavs or Utd out of the top four.. lol
I see Amazon Prime is going to show a Spud Documentary called……….. All or Nothing Spurs
Spoiler alert !……………..it was Nothing!
Not that I`ve seen it or ever will, but we know where it`s heading!
😄👍 Rico!
many sports now have 2 main referees / umpires and use the VAR as a back up why is soccer any different
Geoff, we have enough officials as it is. One referee, two assistant referees, one fourth official and one VAR they are all in constant communication with each other throughout the game, then there is the VAR overseer. Enough already. 😉
Morning guys.
New post up now
I saw two really competent referees recently, one did Southampton (a) the other Sheffield Utd (a), two refs I wasn’t familiar with, who seemed younger and more in tune with the game.
Our problem is we have the same effing referees too often, Atkinson (7), Dean (5), Taylor, Tierney, Attwell, Kavanagh (4), after that it’s only twice, why? Why Atkinson with 7 and Oliver 2 or Mason 1, it doesn’t sound right to me. It’s like if you play a team twice in the league and then get them in the League Cup and FACup, it’s too much, it effects everyone’s attitude, you carry gripes with you and referees are the same.
Riley is to blame, he’s always to blame, the core of our problems always point back to him, I don’t think he is honest, he certainly isn’t impartial and I just don’t think he is very good at the job, he was a poor referee and he’s an equally poor administrator.
Agree re the refs, we sure do get the same ones and we all know why.