VAR is encouraging this further than ever. Got a corner- fall over in the box. Defending an attack- fall over somewhere nowhere near the goal. Worst way you don’t get punished or give away a meaningless free kick. Best way you save or score a goal. Low risk, high reward. Take the Diallo one. Even if the referee thinks it’s a foul, why can players not be also booked for diving? He’s clearly not been felled by the ‘foul’.
VAR has become a disaster - and not because the technology doesn't work ... but VAR isn't the only problem - the rules (and / or application / interpretation of them) have become non-sensical bollocks, open to bias (conscious or unconscious) and need a severe overhaul ... handballs and offside decisions are currently farcical... Was the late penalty at United a penalty - yes - 100% - shirt is obviously (and unnecessarily) being pulled - managers need to take some responsibility for such ill-discipline ... should be coached out of players ... Now would that have been given up the other end at that time in the game? - the cynic in me suspects not - the officials would have taken a long look and likely opted for the 'get out' of 'shirt tug started outside the area' - so free-kick to Burnley on the edge! ... another reason why rules need looking at - any offence starting outside but continuing inside should be a penalty... Can't even be arsed with the Fulham one - sums up everything that is wrong and starkly highlights the big club bias - this is how I see it, cynically, admittedly: Big club scores - VAR officials start from a premise of ensuring it's allowed... Smaller club scores against one of the Big clubs - VAR officials start looking for reasons why they might disallow... Fosse the cynic AD2025
Although a VAR decision did go against AC Milan a so called big club, not just the one I've shown, I read later they also had a second disallowed. Clearly Milan have forgot to keep up their payments to the officials. Unless it's just the PL that are corrupt?
Rangers v Celtic KO at 12 on SKY Sports, I'll watch due to Martin's terrible start, could be the game he gets sacked...or maybe not!
If defenders don't pulls shirts and throw players to the ground at corners, these decisions won't happen. They are fouls, simple as. They need to learn/be coached to defend properly. Amad was away from him, he pulled him back. It's a foul regardless of how long it occurred for. Soft, but a foul.
Cue all the whataboutery pictures showing United defenders doing the same, as if that makes some difference. Irrelevant. They were also fouls, it doesn't change yesterday. All teams do it, needs to be givenacross the board to eradicate it.
Just watched the Everton game highlights - Grealish rightly getting the plaudits - but his understanding and combinations with Dewsbury-Hall were top drawer ... if they both stay fit, Everton are in for a very good season ...
100% agree with this - the holding and shirt tugging have increased manifestly during the last couple of decades ... it's like ****ing WWE at times ...
Said this many times on here ... just need one weekend where refs go into the dressing rooms pre match and inform the teams / manager that they will blow for any holding irrespective... then stick to it ... penalties in all 10 games? ... so what ... you are just punishing foul play ... would soon stop it ...
The ref was on it in our game yesterday. A pen for each team that nobody noticed but the replays showed the defenders were grappling with an opposing player.
Both teams are shockingly bad this season. Celtic should still win but wouldn’t be surprised with a high scoring draw.
I'd love to see a Rangers win, would be funny if useless Martin turned over Rodgers....will not happen though.
I don’t think it’s genuinely corrupt but referees don’t want to get on the wrong side of clubs likely to be in the biggest games. How they find a way to also favour Manchester United is another question.
I don’t mind it not being given but if the same thing happens in the next home game against Dundee or some ****e no one cares about it will be.
Indirect free kicks in the box are really fun. They should downgrade some types of fouls/handballs to indirect free kicks as a penalty is too big a punishment and doesn’t completely **** the defending team for some knobhead throwing himself on the floor for a shirt pull. More indirect free kicks. More chaos.
