I think it’s simpler than that - I think this generation of refs grew up chanting “Same old Arsenal, always cheating” as our players were brought down with brutal tackles. We’re slowly rebranding ourselves as a tough, no-nonsense team, but public opinion takes time to catch up and that of referees takes even longer.
On top of all of that, psychologically the team that wins the league is going to get a lot of leeway due to confirmation bias - they won, so they must be a good team, so of course they didn’t mean to snap his ankle or timewaste.
I think it’s even simpler than that: Michael Oliver got paid by Man City’s owners. Publicly. Subconscious or not that’s bias and conflict of interest there.
I’m not in the UAE. I should hope you’re not, either. Quite frankly, though, as someone from Hong Kong and doesn’t like the government, I’m used to living with the idea that I could be figuratively beheaded at any moment, so the literal beheading doesn’t change much.
Oh, I wasn’t implying you were in the UAE, but yeah, it’s not like authoritarian regimes give a shit about atrocities depending on your location. If I weren’t worried about it, I’d have a lot more choice words for those boys in light blue.
For that I think we need a Brit’s take. I would suggest that there’s a lot of anti-London bias, similar to the way conservative politicians will dog whistle about “coastal elites” (read: Jews) and “inner city thugs” (black people) in America. I wonder whether that sort of mentality is being kept alive by the PGMOL and influencing which refs get promoted.
Just to add, I stand by my conspiracy theory that we’re getting these bullshit calls because Mikel was a good lawyer and beat his charges.
I think it’s simpler than that - I think this generation of refs grew up chanting “Same old Arsenal, always cheating” as our players were brought down with brutal tackles. We’re slowly rebranding ourselves as a tough, no-nonsense team, but public opinion takes time to catch up and that of referees takes even longer.
On top of all of that, psychologically the team that wins the league is going to get a lot of leeway due to confirmation bias - they won, so they must be a good team, so of course they didn’t mean to snap his ankle or timewaste.
I think it’s even simpler than that: Michael Oliver got paid by Man City’s owners. Publicly. Subconscious or not that’s bias and conflict of interest there.
I really want to say what you’re saying, but I fear being beheaded
I’m not in the UAE. I should hope you’re not, either. Quite frankly, though, as someone from Hong Kong and doesn’t like the government, I’m used to living with the idea that I could be figuratively beheaded at any moment, so the literal beheading doesn’t change much.
Oh, I wasn’t implying you were in the UAE, but yeah, it’s not like authoritarian regimes give a shit about atrocities depending on your location. If I weren’t worried about it, I’d have a lot more choice words for those boys in light blue.
I’m just saying, why are there so many refs from the North and nobody from the South being promoted?
For that I think we need a Brit’s take. I would suggest that there’s a lot of anti-London bias, similar to the way conservative politicians will dog whistle about “coastal elites” (read: Jews) and “inner city thugs” (black people) in America. I wonder whether that sort of mentality is being kept alive by the PGMOL and influencing which refs get promoted.
Oh 100% it is.