Referee Watch 2026/27

[Themepark]

Why then was Madueke not even booked when he went head to head with MaCallister last week?

I don’t know that incident I’m afraid.

 

[Themepark]

His first foul after just 4 minutes? Then to be consistent he books everyone for their first foul?

If it stopped a promising attack or deemed reckless, whether it’s first foul or 5th - it’s a yellow.

I’ll try and find logic when I see it back

 

[Les Beeavinu]

If it stopped a promising attack or deemed reckless, whether it’s first foul or 5th - it’s a yellow.

I’ll try and find logic when I see it back

He didn't stop a promising attack, he mistimed a challenge for the ball, definite foul but I don't understand why the first foul of the game by us resulted in a yellow card. I have only seen it live so far.

 

[Kingston Bee]

I don’t know that incident I’m afraid.

Well i will tell you, he booked McAllister for his part but did not book Madueke because he had already been booked. They both deserved at least a yellow. You just get the feeling that if Madueke was playing for a smaller club he would have been off.

 

[Holysmit]

And this is why we seldom bother trying to explain anything as we get met with petulant attitudes/behaviours back.

God forbid we give anything similar back though… else no one takes us seriously

I cant take you seriously. Thats the problem. You sent a photo of a close up that made it look far worse then it was. When all Thiago did was basically flick his hand out to say leave me alone.

Rather then call out the player who decieved the ref. All you care about is justifying an absolutely shocking decision.

When presented with alternative views rather then look to consider them you dismiss them.

We had two shocking decisions today and not for the first time and your only interest is in protecting poor officating. Why would i take your view seriously?

 

[Holysmit]

I don’t know that incident I’m afraid.

It was major news all week and the same as Yarmo so i find that hard to believe

 

[Themepark]

Well i will tell you, he booked McAllister for his part but did not book Madueke because he had already been booked. They both deserved at least a yellow. You just get the feeling that if Madueke was playing for a smaller club he would have been off.

Ah! Is this the Liverpool game last weekend?

Because if it’s the moment I’m thinking - then yes I agree both should've been yellowed and I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t. You either yellow both of them or neither of them IMO. I’ll be interested to see what KMI panel made of it as I thought missed second yellow in real time and wasn’t sure why he booked the other chap..

 

[Holysmit]

Ah! Is this the Liverpool game last weekend?

Because if it’s the moment I’m thinking - then yes I agree both should've been yellowed and I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t. You either yellow both of them or neither of them IMO. I’ll be interested to see what KMI panel made of it as I thought missed second yellow in real time and wasn’t sure why he booked the other chap..

So you did see it? Why did you say you hadnt? Why wasnt Madueke sent off but Yarmo was.

That was more aggressive then Thiago as well.

 

[Holysmit]

And this is why we seldom bother trying to explain anything as we get met with petulant attitudes/behaviours back.

God forbid we give anything similar back though… else no one takes us seriously

Questioning people on poor decision isnt petulant. Its a reasonable thing to do.

 

[Banana]

Questioning people on poor decision isnt petulant. Its a reasonable thing to do.

Yawn. It was a red card. Soft, yes. But it was a red card. No good having a go at a non-league ref about it.

 

[Themepark]

I cant take you seriously. Thats the problem. You sent a photo of a close up that made it look far worse then it was. When all Thiago did was basically flick his hand out to say leave me alone.

Rather then call out the player who decieved the ref. All you care about is justifying an absolutely shocking decision.

When presented with alternative views rather then look to consider them you dismiss them.

We had two shocking decisions today and not for the first time and your only interest is in protecting poor officating. Why would i take your view seriously?

The photo was to demonstrate contact point. Not severity. I’ve said that already. Twice. Literally read the post the photo is on - it’s quite obvious that’s the point I’m making with it.

Thiago did not need to react the way he did. The Brighton player got a forearm to the face and got a split lip. How on any planet is that considered cheating? Did he split his own lip?

I’ve also posted elsewhere where I’ve disagreed with decisions. So it’s completely false to say that’s my only interest.

 

[Themepark]

So you did see it? Why did you say you hadnt? Why wasnt Madueke sent off but Yarmo was.

That was more aggressive then Thiago as well.

Because at the time I didn’t know I had until it was clarified…?

Are you actually ok?

 

[North London Bee]

It is pointless moaning about every red and yellow card we receive and saying that player X at team Y did the same without suffering the same penalty.

If we commit stupid, careless, accidental, reckless or dangerous fouls we put ourselves at the mercy of the referee and run the risk of incurring severe penalties.

 

[Holysmit]

Because at the time I didn’t know I had until it was clarified…?

Are you actually ok?

You knew you saw it but didnt want to admit it. Because you just want to defend refs.

Today game was ruined by poor decisions and all you care about is defending the refs.

The Brighton players need to take responsibility for their actions but until refs call them out or accept they are wrong like they were today and in other games whats the point in watching games.

Stop enabling poor refs.

It was never a ref card. It was never a penalty and if they are f*** watching football.

Particularly when those decision are never given against cetain clubs.

 

[aawharris]

Hes talking absoulte sh*te. Because he wants to stick by the ref community

On the contrary, @Themepark always gives a very balanced view on decisions.
Sometime he agrees, others he doesnt.
Often also corrects people on things that we all thought was law/rules but arent and thats appreciated
And he isnt biased towards big teams.

 

[Themepark]

You knew you saw it but didnt want to admit it. Because you just want to defend refs.

Yet I ‘admitted it’ immediately after the incident was described further?

And I’m so hell bent on defending refs that I say I think he got it wrong and missed a second yellow?

Gotcha

 

[Holysmit]

On the contrary, @Themepark always gives a very balanced view on decisions.
Sometime he agrees, others he doesnt.
Often also corrects people on things that we all thought was law/rules but arent and thats appreciated
And he isnt biased towards big teams.

Fair enough if you think that.

But totally disagree hes been dismissive and wont listen to anything else today and the decisions were shocking.

I cant fathom how he is defending them or pretending that he didnt know about the Madueke headbutt to avoid questions about Yarmo.

 

[Banana]

Fair enough if you think that.

But totally disagree hes been dismissive and wont listen to anything else today and the decisions were shocking.

I cant fathom how he is defending them or pretending that he didnt know about the Madueke headbutt to avoid questions about Yarmo.

Are you bored yet? Cause everyone else is

 

[Themepark]

I cant fathom how he is pretending that he didnt know about the Madueke headbutt to avoid questions about Yarmo.

And this is precisely what I meant about petulance.

It’s so boring isn’t it?

 

[BFC1997]

Amuses me also that referees now seem to subjectively decide when to start their 5 second count down for dead balls, making the rule itself far less useful than it should be

 

[Holysmit]

Are you bored yet? Cause everyone else is

It gives you something to do. So i find that hard to believe! Not posting screen shots on twitter as a point of reference tonight?

 

[Holysmit]

And this is precisely what I meant about petulance.

It’s so boring isn’t it?

You said you didnt know about it then said you did. I'm just pointing that out!

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Amuses me also that referees now seem to subjectively decide when to start their 5 second count down for dead balls, making the rule itself far less useful than it should be

Yep, another nonsense law that has led to no improvement whatsoever.

 

[Themepark]

Amuses me also that referees now seem to subjectively decide when to start their 5 second count down for dead balls, making the rule itself far less useful than it should be

The law on this is actually a nightmare to be honest!

It’s when we as the referee deem the team to be taking an excessive amount of time over the restart in order to waste time. So it is a subjective one.

The way I manage it is allowing a reasonable amount of time for it to be taken. But if, for example, someone with 10 minutes to go and who’s team is under the cosh deliberately lets the ball roll past them to try and delay the taking of the throw in - 5…4…3…

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

Refs have been crap this season.

Getting a bit bored of the constant need to mico compare every one of our bookings to other games.

Every team is going through the same nonsense.

 

[Themepark]

Yep, another nonsense law that has led to no improvement whatsoever.

The ability to turn the throws/GK’s around I love.

The countdowns less so… it’s too Futsal for my liking

 

[Les Beeavinu]

The ability to turn the throws/GK’s around I love.

The countdowns less so… it’s too Futsal for my liking

All the drama and theatre by the refs leads to about 1 decision every 10 games. Pointless and performative.

 

[Themepark]

All the drama and theatre by the refs leads to about 1 decision every 10 games. Pointless and performative.

I don’t disagree at all. All it’s really done is ensure players will wait until the 1 before releasing back into play.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Hey @Themepark, as you've posted a picture of Thiago as evidence for his sending off, can you give a view on whether his action was more violent than this action yesterday that wasn't deemed worthy of a yellow card.

 

[ppobee]

Amuses me also that referees now seem to subjectively decide when to start their 5 second count down for dead balls, making the rule itself far less useful than it should be

Let's the timewaster know exactly how much longer he can timewaste for. So it gives them the advantage.

 

[Jezybee]

All the drama and theatre by the refs leads to about 1 decision every 10 games. Pointless and performative.

Just wait until one of them starts going all Billy Bowden on the signalling.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Let's the timewaster know exactly how much longer he can timewaste for. So it gives them the advantage.

Indeed, if there is to be a countdown, let it be done off the pitch and out of view please. Or just scrap the stupid law.

 

[Themepark]

Hey @Themepark, as you've posted a picture of Thiago as evidence for his sending off, can you give a view on whether his action was more violent than this action yesterday that wasn't deemed worthy of a yellow card.

View attachment 70212

This is at the very least a yellow card for me.

 

[To Bee Someone]

United's 4th goal..I've seen that disallowed before.

 

[Banana]

Rogers "accidentally" knees a player on the ground in the head. Guess what the decision was?

 

[Banana]

Hey @Themepark, as you've posted a picture of Thiago as evidence for his sending off, can you give a view on whether his action was more violent than this action yesterday that wasn't deemed worthy of a yellow card.

View attachment 70212

To be fair, I think it was acknowledged as a probable yellow card, but as it was missed by the ref the VAR could only get involved if it was a red.

Why the ref wasn't asked if it was a red or not is another matter. Otherwise the VAR is reffing the match, no?

 

[Les Beeavinu]

To be fair, I think it was acknowledged as a probable yellow card, but as it was missed by the ref the VAR could only get involved if it was a red.

Why the ref wasn't asked if it was a red or not is another matter. Otherwise the VAR is reffing the match, no?

VAR could've given a penalty, after which the referee can review any cards.

 

[Banana]

VAR could've given a penalty, after which the referee can review any cards.

If it was in the box then, yes, I agree. I can't remember if it was though.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

If it was in the box then, yes, I agree. I can't remember if it was though.

It was.

 

[Untouchable]

If it was in the box then, yes, I agree. I can't remember if it was though.

The foul on Tel was by the half way line. There was more than enough in it to send the ref to the monitor IMO.

 

[A Real Mysteron]

Fair enough if you think that.

But totally disagree hes been dismissive and wont listen to anything else today and the decisions were shocking.

I cant fathom how he is defending them or pretending that he didnt know about the Madueke headbutt to avoid questions about Yarmo.

I’m not a ref, and Thiago was a definite red card and it was a definite penalty.

I’m a bit fed up with all the tedious whataboutery that goes on referencing previous alledged poor decisions.
Yesterday the ref with some help from VAR, got both big decisions right.

 

[Holysmit]

I’m not a ref, and Thiago was a definite red card and it was a definite penalty.

I’m a bit fed up with all the tedious whataboutery that goes on referencing previous alledged poor decisions.
Yesterday the ref with some help from VAR, got both big decisions right.

I'm going to have to disagree.

Hes literally just tried to say get out of my face and his arm moves upwards as he tries to get him out of his face. The guy who has instigated it has then gone down theoretically.

That is cheating for me and I just dont want to see that in person. Its the 2nd game we have been robbed of an actual contest due to players being rewarded for being aggressive/provoking a reaction and not being held accountable for it.

Whats the point in going to games if that is allowed to continue. I think I've said enough and i have messaged themepark privately. So i will not hijack the thread.

Happy to discuss over PM if you feel there is more to say.

 

[A Real Mysteron]

I'm going to have to disagree.

Hes literally just tried to say get out of my face and his arm moves upwards as he tries to get him out of his face. The guy who has instigated it has then gone down theoretically.

That is cheating for me and I just dont want to see that in person. Its the 2nd game we have been robbed of an actual contest due to players being rewarded for being aggressive/provoking a reaction and not being held accountable for it.

Whats the point in going to games if that is allowed to continue. I think I've said enough and i have messaged themepark privately. So i will not hijack the thread.

Happy to discuss over PM if you feel there is more to say.

The bloke was bleeding from the mouth.

I’m not bothered about discussing further.
People have different opinions.

 

[Untouchable]

Remember when Howard Webb rocked up on live TV and said about Michael Oliver’s failure to send off Mateo Kovacic that “[Michael Oliver] doesn't want to have a negative impact on the game by overreacting."

It’s a shame this apparent discretion within the laws of football is so inconsistently applied.

 

[HMDBFC]

I'm sure that all of this will be cleared up in this morning's Ref Watch on Sky. I can hear Dermot Gallagher now ....

"Clear case of violent conduct, straight red, VAR got it right in this instance"...

....Whilst looking at a still image of Thiago's elbow in his face...

Jonathan Pierce and the Leon Osman on last night's MOTD2 got it bang on....

We must try and get this red downgraded at least to a 1 match ban. Can't bear the thought of the cheats in the game winning this battle every week.

 

[mattbee]

Remember when Howard Webb rocked up on live TV and said about Michael Oliver’s failure to send off Mateo Kovacic that “[Michael Oliver] doesn't want to have a negative impact on the game by overreacting."

It’s a shame this apparent discretion within the laws of football is so inconsistently applied.

I Agree, referees can hide behind 'managing' a game to give preferential treatment to big teams and I don't see that ever changing.

 

[Banana]

We must try and get this red downgraded at least to a 1 match ban.

Not sure how that would work.

 

[ladbroke]

Fine. Instead of ‘swung’ - thrown, flailed, shoved.

Force isn’t the only consideration. Contact point comes into play: Face. If he hits chest, it’ll be a yellow guaranteed. But he didn’t. He got him right on the boat.

Instantly more danger and that does change what levels of force can be accepted.

In the same way contact threshold with lower shin is going to be different to the knee etc. Lower shin can take a bit more than the knee bone/tendon etc. so you’ll more likely see red on the knee than you will the lower shin etc.

Thing is mate that the falls flat when you have the incident from one of our games in a previous season (which i acknowledge you recognise is a red by the way) and referees in the PL not agreeing. It really does feel like a "check badge" moment these days.

You and I both know that (should) not be the case but it does.

 

[Banana]

I'm sure that all of this will be cleared up in this morning's Ref Watch on Sky. I can hear Dermot Gallagher now ....

"Clear case of violent conduct, straight red, VAR got it right in this instance"...

Bang on. But being taken to task by everyone else.

 

[North London Bee]

Bang on. But being taken to task by everyone else.

I thought he was sitting on the fence a bit and almost agreeing with Sherwood and Boothroyd that it was a poor decision