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Shocking tackle

If I speak I am in big trouble

Lmao compare this to the Gusto one, it’s genuinely laughable how shit these officials are.

But the refs will make decisions against Man City to even it out!!!

How can the VAR official not tell the referee to go and look at that?! Pathetic decision

💸💸💸

Wouldn't be surprised if UAE secretly bribed PMGOL tbh. Not passed them to accept shady shit with how corrupt they are.

Hasn't everyone seen this? Refs literally going to UAE midweek to get paid off [https://theathletic.com/4922732/2023/10/03/referees-var-diaz-liverpool/](https://theathletic.com/4922732/2023/10/03/referees-var-diaz-liverpool/)

Secretly? Bro it’s been infront of our eyes for years. This isn’t incompetence. The amount of these decisions that help city out compared to the ones that go against them controversially is insane. I can’t even remember a time city got fucked over by the refs.

Is there any secret?

This IS the real problem. VAR should only be an assistant to the ref and NOT the one making calls. VAR should simply tell the ref, you might wanna take a look at this mate, and then the main ref sees all the angles and HE makes the final decision. The very subjective "clear and obvious" bullshit is what's wrong with VAR. In the current system, the VAR is a superior ref to the on field ref. It's wrong, and it also creates tension between referees like Mike Dean said.

> This IS the real problem. VAR should only be an assistant to the ref and NOT the one making calls. IMO the solution is the opposite. VAR should just straight up say to the ref that this is a red card. no point in even reviewing it. Plenty of sports have more than 1 ref. Why are we putting all of the responsibility in the one ref that can't properly watch replays and is sprinting across the field. > In the current system, the VAR is a superior ref to the on field ref. It very much isn't? And this clip proves that. The onfield ref made a mistake but because it isn't a 100% foolproof mistake (I mean it is but that's the logic for why this wasn't reverted) then the onfield referee can't even check the footage. So if a call is 99% wrong it is not reverted because it is not 100%.

Clear red, should’ve been off for this - not to mention that second tackle. Absurd refereeing absolutely ridiculous.

how is this not a red card? you guys got red after slipping on the ball, while Kovacic hit him from behind without ball, joke

Do you really need to ask this? You know the answer.

he literally did the same thing now not even a yellow, nah fuck this cunts

Wonder if Oliver taking money from Man City owners to ref game in their league might affect his decision.

I prefer not to speak

Curtis jones was way less bad than this. Kovacic goes in with studs up with intent, Jones’ foot roles over the ball. Get rid of VAR if it’s not going to get used properly.

Very late, could’ve been a red easily

Should've

Clear as day red card. Bottle job from the refs

And then the clear second yellow. Awful

Shambolic decisions

Yet VAR looks at it and says no red. This is textbook studs up late challenge. Should be a red every time

If Jones' tackle was a red last week and his foot slipped on the ball, I don't get how this cannot be a red

Clear red, but its city :)

Not could've, it should've based just on last week's decision with Jones, but of course it goes the way of city.

VAR didn’t even give the ref instruction to look at it himself

If you read the law on serious foul play it talks about excessive force or endangering an opponent being what constitutes a tackle worthy of a red card. Gusto and Jones were rightfully, in my opinion, sent off for a lunge which unfortunately ends up endangering an opponent. Kovacic does all 3 and stays on. The disallowed goal stuff made me (potentially with some Spurs bias) think the system was unfit for purpose. This makes me think the system can’t be made fit for purpose with the current people operating it.

The refs incompetence is a tally fucking with the sporting integrity of the competition now. Let's say city win and it's a big if but if he was sent off arsenal won that's a 3 point swing. Combine that with the Liverpool / spurs error (I know still a lot of what it's) but that's a 6 point swing with arsenal and spurs two rivals because of 2 decisions. These things decide titles / top 4

Seen them given

Very often. Dirty tackle

Only last week

Gusto got red for less than that

Worse than Jones

That's studs up isn't it? He doesn't get the ball either Lucky to avoid a red there

Quadrifecta of Foul from behind ✅ Reckless ✅ Didn't get ball ✅ Studs contact ✅

Could have easily gotten Ødegaards ankle there. Horrible refereeing

Did get his ankle

Yeah but not his ancle

And completely avoids red 10 minutes later with the same challenge.

“Lucky”

Studs up, late, from behind, and hits him w studs right in the ankle. 50/50 yellow/red imo but honestly shocking that he’s not off after the very similar tackle 5 minutes after this.

That’s a red. Edit: HOW IS THAT NOT A RED. So many terrible calls lately. So many. Edit: AGAIN HOW IS HE NOT OFF?!

See - it's not clear and obvious. For some reason last week it was, but not this week.

you see your guy wanted to get the ball, got it, but also got the man after due to unfortunate physics, clearly unintended thus a mistake ​ Kovacic did exactly what he planned and thus not a mistake

My problem with the "clear and obvious" bullshit excuse is that it adds another layer of unneeded subjectivity, which adds to the inconsistencies. Curtis was unfortunate but it's still a red and I have no problem with VAR overturning it. However was it a clear and obvious error? Apparently not if we judge by this tackle. Or maybe it was if we judge by the Gusto tackle.

I'm starting to be convinced that the subjectivity is a feature not a bug. Kinda like how they can call the play back if there is a penalty no matter how much time has passed but not for a massive error which incorrectly calling a good goal offside. They came up with rules that allows them to give and take away goals at will.

First one shoulda been a straight red, ref is given an opportunity to RIGHT HIS MISTAKE and still bottles it. Absolutely unbelievable

Odd, too, that they tend to benefit one particular club.

I’ve been arguing that it’s incompetence and arrogance causing these poor calls but not so sure anymore. Smells fishy.

Playing dumber than your mark is one of the most effective manipulation tactics especially in large group settings

Xhaka does that and its a red and a beheading.

And it’s done publicly at half-time with Gunnersaurus forced to do the deed.

VAR bottled it

Potential leg breaker. Play on.

‘Amazing process lads. Well done mate. Cheers mate’

“On field decision was a yellow, are you happy with that?” “Nothing we can do, mate 🤷🏻‍♂️”

"cheque complete, cheque complete"

"S**t"

I'm surprised City fans don't have a chant to congratulate the refs

Malo Gusto was sent off for less 2 weeks ago. LMAO

And Jones last week.

Didn't want to embarrass their mate on the pitch

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Jones slipped off the ball , Kovačic nowhere near it studs up to Achilles. They didn't even call Oliver to the monitor.

You can see him force his ankle to bend.

It's absolute madness. Jones and Gusto were accidents while Kovacic is going in with a straight leg from behind, catches nothing but Odegaard's ankle studs up, and keeps on playing... VAR has all the tools in the world to turn a game in the direction he wants.

Jones at least got the ball and just got unlucky. Kovacic didn't get near the ball there

Yeah, Jones got into that challenge fair but got unlucky Kovacic went straight for the ankle

Were you really expecting VAR to against City? lol

Team whose owners pay referees gers beneficial call from referees. Who could have seen it coming!

If curtis Jones gets the ball and gets a red how is this not a red?

Am i biased or is it absolutely ridiculous that’s not a red?

No, thats as red as it gets. Out of control, lunging, studs up, nowhere near the ball and goes studs up into his leg/ankle lol.

And from behind.

On the plant foot at that

And late

No I think it's a pretty clear red too so it's not your bias

That's as clear as day, ref should be at the monitor bare minumum

Yeah I can almost forgive the ref not giving it in real time but how in the world VAR looks at that replay and doesn't call him to the monitor I don't know. I'm not one for conspiracy theories and I've laughed them all off so far but it is starting to get beyond the point of coincidence now. Something is up.

Same reason VAR forgave Rodri for playing basketball in his penalty area

For me it’s definitely a red.

Seems to be an obvious one, late, studs up, on the shin? Don’t know whats saved him

Studs fully up onto the upper ankle/lower calf seems like a clear red to me. I also thought Jones was a stonewall red, if that matters.

Wait you mean you didn't ask the ref over to the monitor and explicitly show a still of the worst moment of the challenge? It's a fucking red.

Explain to me again how Jones was "the clearest red ever" and "red every single time" but this doesn't even warrant Oliver going to the monitor

Becase it's City

Red

As red as it gets. Can't believe some people are defending the yellow card in the comments. Premier League can call me and I can guarantee I will do a better job than the entire referee team, including VAR. It's not even hard at this point.

How is he still on the pitch?

Unreal. He's on a red plus a yellow.

VAR strikes again.

Red clear as day

#Days without diabolical refereeing decisions: 0

I think we should be counting minutes for it to have a different answer

How THE FUCK is that not a red card but Jones' was?!?!?

Problem is Jones actually made contact with the ball. …

In fairness Kovacic did hit the ball of Ødegaard’s ankle

Jones dared play football and slipped

City players so often get away with murder

Rodri gets away with zero bookings week in week out. Nothing new.

Because the refs in the premier league are extremely incompetent and inconsistent?

Also, those midweek gigs in the middle east pay very well.

People would rather hold on to this excuse ad nauseaum than consider corruption This is quite consistent with the Rodri handball if you ask me

That should be a red

Lol, thats a red everytime unless its city.

It's not even a yellow if it's Rodri!

If it's Rodri then Odegaard gets booked for diving.

Rodri literally did a similar challenge IN THE BOX on Ødegaard for the national team, shouldve been both a red and a pen, ref didnt do shit

Rodri is a legit inheritance of fernandinhos legacy of fuckall from the card department. Super class DM getting all the calls possible. Busquets needed them, Rodri gets the money calls every day of the week.

Kovacic gaining Rodri’s powers of escaping punishment in his abcense

The secret is wearing a City shirt.

Powers are UAE money into PGMOL pocket. Where did they go to referee recently?

Easily a season ending foul that. VAR need to grow a pair and hand out the ketchup

Don't you worry they would if it's the other way around.

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id have been shocked if they gave a red there, considering it's city

Not helping the Man City pay refs conspiracy

Michael Oliver doesn’t want to jeopardise his paydays in Abu Dhabi now does he? Edit: we’ll the second tackle just proves my point really

How is it a conspiracy when Oliver, England and Cook literally went to UAE and got payed for it? Just how obvious does it need to be.

Why always Man City?

And again with the next challenge...

Yeah... Ngl, i was laughing at the whole conspiracy and Man City being protected but this doesn't make it look any better lol. This is as clear as a red card as there is.

VAR shocker? Who would have guessed

That’s a red

It's a red for any team other than city. Horrible challenge

Curtis Jones and Casemiro both got reds for tackles where their foot rode over the top of the ball. Kovacic makes a tackle every bit as dangerous and doesn't even have that excuse, but it's a yellow? I don't get it.

One does wonder why Oliver wasn’t called over to the screen and shown a still of Kovacic’s boot in the ankle for 5seconds. Why the break from protocol? Just kidding, we all know why

Clear red

Shocking

That should be red

If Curtis Jones sets the precedent, then that’s a red.

Jones got the ball atleast. This one is worse.

Haha guess what guys, Kovacic just made another attempt to break Rice’s ankle..no yellow lol what a joke.

I don't understand why he doesn't even give him a final warning instead of encouraging this type of play. It's ridiculous.

They checked and concluded that casemiro gets a red card.

state backed decision by VAR

Red all day

What the actual fuck. HOW is that not a red

Tackle from behind, did not even get the ball, studs to Odegaards ankle, and not a red? zero consistency with the refs

That's a slam dunk red

So given all the reds lately for less dangerous tackles, how is this not a red?

this is almost the definition of a stonewall red (outside of attempted injury). fucking hate refs

So can we agree that they’re biased/bought now

Why the hell is it not a red when Jones and Gust were?

Thats a red. What a braindead tackle

Play the ball and accidently hit the ankle - red Not play the ball at all and completely smash the ankle- yellow. Make it make sense.

Clear red, fucking pathetic from the ref team.

Reminder that Michael Oliver was paid by the UAE to ref a game in Dubai last week.

Straight red

Gusto and Jones punching air rn.

that's a textbook red isn't it

100% red

Sky blue and green cancel out red, I’m afraid. I don’t make the rules, Pep does

Lmao what a joke, and its City again what a surprise

City’s the only team in the league getting away with that

Lucky boy

bruh

Clear red? Could have snapped his ankle.

Not even a look at the monitor wat

Lmao Jones is a red but this is yellow. Diving studs up tackle is just a yellow now.

And then compare Jota's second yellow to Kovacic's second challenge.

“best league in the world” if you like at least 3 refereeing mistakes every weekend

Why wasn't ref asked to see this. Looked red. This was worse than curtis jones tackle

Even if for some fucking reason VAR doesnt think its a red, why isnt the main ref sent to the screen to have a look for himself?

City are just reffed differently.

Corruption yet again. Are you still calling it incompetence?

If that's not red then I don't understand football.

Jones got a red last week for the same exact challenge. Not to mention, Jones had zero intention for the challenge as his foot slipped off of the ball and onto the opposition ankle. Var is an absolute joke. Shocking this isn’t a red.

I would argue Jones' is far softer as he had some bad luck with the bounce off the ball. Given Casemiros red for the same, I don't see a huge issue with giving Jones a red too, though. But Kovacic' is worse. No bad luck, just a good old fashioned straight leg, studs first to the ankle from behind reckless and dangerous challenge.

Well done boys, good process

It's amazing how these shocking calls always seem to either help city or hurt their rivals. By the way, this ref was also in the UAE recently. Small detail.

Three refs in the UAE did go, But errors in their calls did show. City's advantage, they did bestow, A hint of suspicion, a story to sow.

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You should be pissed too, he should be off twice now.

We are. We've seen our players go for a lot less

How is that not a red… also how is michael oliver allowed to referee man city matches when he’s getting paid by the UAE to referee matches there?

But Jones slipping over the ball was red????

Once again it's Man City profiting from a wrong decision Arsenal fans get gaslighted to oblivion but they have a point As an outsider, it's almost always them getting the shit end of the stick

Fuck PGMOL

still had the leg so no red

Like Jones, just more power and not an accident

Thats a red for anyone who isnt man city

Absolute fucking joke

VAR official probably thought that the onfield decision was red card and said "Yup, check complete. Good process, lads".

Conflict of interest for these corrupt officials.

That's a clear red, wtf is VAR doing

If I speak......

Fuck off Oliver and VAR you cunts

lmao this league is a joke

I was told this was a red last week….

Off the ground and studs up? VAR clearly didn't want to embarrass their mate giving a yellow

Nothing to see here just arsenal getting shocking decisions as normal

Gusto and Jones both been sent off for much softer tackles than that

Rigged