2024/25 Premier League The season has been dominated by Liverpool's brilliant start under Arne Slott, Manchester United's continued decline from form, Nottingham Forest's unlikely Champions League bid and controversial refereeing decisions.
The latter is often the main talking point on Saturday evening, let alone Monday morning. William Saliba's controversial penalty against Brighton put the referees in the spotlight again last weekend, while Tottenham's Lukas Bergvall was at the center of controversy in the EFL Cup when he perhaps should have walked on before a late winner against Liverpool.
Here, FootballFanCast takes a look at 11 of the most controversial refereeing decisions of the current Premier League campaign, and why they have left players, managers and fans alike angry.
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11
Declan Rice second yellow against Brighton
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Declan Rice was sent off during Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brighton in August after receiving a second yellow card after clearing the ball away from Joel Veltman as he prepared to take a free-kick.
Although the decision was correct under the letter of the law, it angered many Arsenal fans, and continues to do so because others… Since then similar incidents have gone unpunished.
Even referee Chris Kavanagh, who showed Rice the red card, said so “I didn't like” the decision, but “he had no choice.”.
10
Pedro Neto penalty kick against Crystal Palace
Referee: Tim Robinson
Chelsea were 1-0 up against Crystal Palace when Pedro Neto and Tyreke Mitchell raced towards a loose ball inside the Palace penalty area.
Neto beat Mitchell to the ball, pushing it away with his toe, while Mitchell missed the ball, instead connecting with Neto's legs and sending him to the ground.
Match referee Tim Robinson ruled that Mitchell had won the ball fairly, as did the VAR. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher later told Sky Sports He would have pointed out the place.
9
Ait Nouri's handball claim against Nottingham Forest
Referee: Peter Banks
Viewers have been left scratching their heads as to why Rayan Ait Nouri was not penalized for what appeared to be a blatant handball during Wolves' 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest.
Referee Peter Banks refused to call for a penalty kick after Ola Aina's ball hit Ait Nouri's arm. VAR examined the incident and approved the on-field decision.
After the match, a tweet from the Premier League Match Center account revealed that Ait Nouri escaped punishment because his arm was considered to be in a normal position when the ball hit it. An interesting call, to say the least.
8
John Doran Red at Newcastle
Newcastle United 3-0 Aston Villa, December 26
Aston Villa striker John Doran was sent off after deliberately stamping on Magpies defender Fabian Schar during Villa's 3-0 loss at St James' Park.
While some, including those in the video below, agreed it was right to send the Colombian off, others, including former Villa star Dean Saunders, were furious.
“There was no intention!” Angry Saunders on TalkSPORT. “If you watch, Duran is trying to get the ball past Schar.”
Duran reacted angrily to his sending off at the time, kicking a water bottle as he walked off the pitch and having to be restrained by a member of Villa's backroom staff. The FA later charged him with inappropriate behaviour.
7
Disallowed goal for Ebere Eze against Brentford
Referee: Sam Parrott
Crystal Palace midfielder Ebere Eze was controversially denied a stunning free-kick goal in the Eagles' 2-1 defeat to Brentford in August.
Eze scored directly from a long free-kick and the game was scoreless, but referee Sam Parrott whistled before the ball crossed the goal line for a foul by Palace's Will Hughes.
Because of the opening whistle, VAR was unable to review Hughes' supposed foul or Eze's goal.
Eze later claimed that Parrott He admitted making a mistake by having his goal disallowed, telling BBC Match of the Day: “He (the referee) told me he shot too early and made the mistake. It could have changed the game but we have to deal with it.” “
6
Issa Diop's mistake against Liverpool
Referee: Tony Harrington
Liverpool fans were baffled when Fulham defender Issa Diop did not show a red card during the Reds' 2-2 draw with Cottagers in mid-December.
While challenging Andy Robertson for a rebound, the French defender missed the ball and instead sunk his nails into the Scot's knees, leaving him writhing in pain on the floor. Diop was only shown a yellow card by referee Tony Harrington, with VAR deciding not to overturn the original call.
To make matters worse, Robertson was later sent off for challenging Harry Wilson.
5
Leandro Trossard second warning against Man City
Referee: Michael Oliver
Weeks after Declan Rice was sent off against Brighton, Leandro Trossard left his Arsenal team-mates in a similar predicament after picking up a second yellow card, which also came from a delayed restart following a foul.
The Belgian took a 2-1 lead over defending champion Manchester City moments before the end of the first half, as Belgian Bernardo Silva stormed in, and referee Michael Oliver awarded a free kick for the hosts.
Trossard appeared to kick the ball wide after the referee's whistle, which Oliver saw as an attempt to delay the restart despite Silva being in danger at the time, while the winger protested his innocence as he may have been looking to clear out Gabriel Martinelli.
It was certainly on the trivial side with the red cards coming up, and it's made even more disgusting for Arsenal considering that. Mateo Kovacic escaped the same punishment For a pair of more egregious misdemeanors in a previous encounter (under Oliver) – even before they were linked to a late equaliser.
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4
Foul by Matthijs de Ligt against West Ham
Referee: David Coote
In what proved to be Erik Ten Hag's final game as Manchester United manager, the Red Devils drew with West Ham by one goal each when United defender Matthijs de Ligt conceded a late penalty.
Referee David Coote did not initially award a penalty, but 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 home to seal the win for West Ham. Ten Hag was sacked less than 24 hours later.
Former Premier League referee Howard Webb, who is chairman of the PGMOL refereeing body, told Mic'd Up for Premier League match officials that he believes… The decision to award the penalty was incorrect.
He said: “I think this is a situation where we leave the decision on the field as it is, perhaps whatever way it is called. In general, I do not think it is a penalty.”
We suspect United fans might be grateful for what they've been offered.
3
William Saliba's mistake in Brighton
Referee: Anthony Taylor
“I have never seen a decision like this in my career.” Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said After his team won a penalty kick against Brighton.
With Arsenal leading 1-0 thanks to an Ethan Nwaneri goal, Joao Pedro fell to the ground after clashing heads with Saliba as they both contested a curling ball.
Referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty kick and the VAR found no reason to overturn his original decision.
However, other angles of the incident appear to show that Saliba touched the ball before catching the Brazilian, which angered Arteta, whose team ultimately wasted two points due to the decision.
2
Pervis Estupinan's challenge against West Ham
Referee: Rob Jones
Late in West Ham's recent draw with Brighton, Hammers defender Maximilian Kilman advanced the ball into midfield only to be met by a flying Pervis Estopinan, who appeared to leave the ground with both feet, hitting Kilman with his buttons up.
Referee Rob Jones immediately showed the yellow card, but it was then checked by VAR official Paul Tierney. His decision? Somehow, no red card.
1
Joao Pedro vs Brentford
Referee: Andy Madeley
Brighton's draw with Brentford in late December may have lacked goals, but it led to the most controversial refereeing decision of the season so far, which once again involved Brighton and Joao Pedro.
Late in the game, Brentford's Yehor Yarmolyuk prevented a Brighton breakaway by pulling Pedro's shirt. The Brazilian responded by moving his right elbow towards the midfielder's face, but fortunately he missed.
Andy Madley gave Yarmolyuk a yellow card for his indiscretion, but VAR asked referee Chris Kavanagh to stop play until Joao Pedro's retaliation could be ascertained. Although replays clearly showed that he tried to elbow Yarmolyuk, it was not worth a red card.
If Pedro had been in contact with Jarmolyuk, the consequences could have been dire, as was the decision to allow him to remain on the field.