The ongoing bias against Arsenal isn’t merely intentional; it’s systemic and deeply ingrained. A recent poster on social media highlighted the inconsistency in time management, showing Liverpool corners and Arsenal’s goalie, Raya, receiving a yellow card for time-wasting after only 19 seconds, with corners often taking longer.
The writer labeled this “pre-meditated,” suggesting deliberate bias by the referee, but Tony Attwood argues it’s more complex. He believes this isn’t necessarily pre-meditated by referees, but rather a result of subconscious bias or incompetence. Players might exploit referees’ predictable behaviors rather than referees actively favoring certain teams.
This pattern of bias can also stem from copycat journalism, where reporters reiterate similar narratives to meet deadlines, which often labels clubs like Liverpool as “fair-minded” without evidence.
The result is a skewed perception that influences public opinion and commentary, as seen in various responses on fan forums. Critics often dismiss concerns about biased refereeing as mere complaints, rarely providing evidence against claims that highlight questionable referee decisions.
The statistics are telling. For instance, last season, David Coote officiated more than 20 games, with over half ending in home wins, while Jarred Gillett had nearly half of his matches end in away wins, and Anthony Taylor frequently oversaw draws. Referees influence game outcomes more than acknowledged, creating predictable outcomes for clubs depending on which referee is assigned.
This issue, Attwood argues, is not overt but reflects how referees are swayed, consciously or not, by home crowds—a trend made evident during the pandemic. Some referees disregard research on crowd influence, while others strive excessively to counteract it, resulting in favoritism toward away teams.
Attwood suggests reforms: introduce external oversight for the PGMO (Professional Game Match Officials Limited), encourage more transparency, and educate journalists about these subtleties rather than ridiculing concerned fans. In his view, the media’s silence only bolsters PGMO’s secrecy. Attwood calls for limiting referee assignments to ensure clubs encounter any specific referee only twice in a season and promoting higher standards in officiating to prevent home-team or away-team biases.
