Having a discussion with a friend of mine that is a Wolves fan and feels naturally aggrieved at the decisions that went our way, highlighting a bias in favour of the traditional top 4 (Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, United). My counter argument is that there is a bias in favour of United and Liverpool, which isn't apparent for Chelsea and Arsenal.

I think there is an added pressure on refs when they go to Anfield or Old Trafford, which isn't there with any other football ground in the country, certainly not the Bridge or Emirates.

I just think when you support a non-top 4 club you are always going to feel naturally aggrieved? In the days when we weren't a big fish in this league I always felt naturally more aggrieved when decisions went against us at Old Trafford then if it happened at Pride Park or the Dell.

What are your thoughts fellow Shed Enders?

It's not just big clubs that get the decisions.

Spurs do too.

I hate to hark back to the QPR game, but those tramps got every decision that day.

Some years ago I read about some study which revealed that football referees subconsciously favour teams that play in red. I can't remember the specifics, but I think it was more of a general study rather than something that would have focused on the Premiership. I can't find the article now, but I clearly remember reading about it.

Some years ago I read about some study which revealed that football referees subconsciously favour teams that play in red.

And play at Old Trafford. I remember that too.

I don't really buy the whole conspiracy thing about the bigger clubs. If you look at stats of decisions given it will support the argument but it ignores the fact that over an extended period the bigger clubs have more possession and territorial advantage and therefore are more likely to be fouled against than commit the fouls. All fans remember controversial decisions that go against them but tend to forget the ones that go in their favour.

And play at Old Trafford. I remember that too.

Hilarious... I was serious, though.

Yes.

When we were sh*t we got no marginal decisions or decisions v big clubs.

Now we get a lot more marginal decisions, get reffed fairly v Pool, Arse, Utd etc. and get away with murder against small teams.

I think that more of the 'home' clubs get the ref's decisions than the visitors in the majority of games & the 'bigger' the home club you are the better.

Unless of course it's a European tie,then it's a case of who UEFA/FIFA value more.

(Crikey,what a cynic,I'm slowly turning into my old man)

Yes.

When we were sh*t we got no marginal decisions or decisions v big clubs.

Now we get a lot more marginal decisions, get reffed fairly v Pool, Arse, Utd etc. and get away with murder against small teams.

Exactly, I mean only this season we have seen us get all those decisions against QPR... oh hang on.

you only have to look at our FA Cup game against Everton to show this is bunk.

Roberto Di Matteo's record was taken away from him by Saha, after he was set up by a cross from Pineaar who was offside. No decision given.

Then there is the incident later in the game where Lampard is breaking into the box and is brought down in the area. Whistle goes, I think we've got a penalty, and the next thing is Lampard gets a yellow for diving - there was definitely contact.

And finally, in the same game... Malouda's rocket shot that hit the bar and went in over the line, and bounced back out. No goal given.

Thats just one game.

I would, seriously, like to see a tabulation of added time for ManU games when they're trailing, compared to all other teams in the league.

I see huge bias there by the refs.

Loz got it spot on to be fair, the reason the bigger clubs get more decisions is because 99% of the time the bigger clubs have much more possession, more attacking situations etc.

I think the name Phil Dowd needs to be thrown in at this point.

Loz got it spot on to be fair, the reason the bigger clubs get more decisions is because 99% of the time the bigger clubs have much more possession, more attacking situations etc.

Except if you're Arsenal, apparently. :)

Exactly, I mean only this season we have seen us get all those decisions against QPR... oh hang on.

I think I got it wrong when I said murder and was gonna edit it but left it, just ignore that bit :-)

I think referees favour the bigger clubs for certain, with one notable exception - Chelsea.

Everything goes against us all the time.

I think referees favour the bigger clubs for certain, with one notable exception - Chelsea.

Everything goes against us all the time.

You should read Graham Poll's weekly column in the Heil. He claims nearly every week that we get major decisions in our favour (the Lamps' yellow at Wolves, the two recent Cole unpunished handballs that led to goals v Spuds and Pompey, the Meireles non-red v City).

EDIT: I know you were being sarcastic!

Edited January 11, 201213 yr by Backbiter

What is Williams problem?

Always chiming in with a pithy remark, fella sounds like a sarcastic teenager.

I think referees favour the bigger clubs for certain, with one notable exception - Chelsea.

Everything goes against us all the time.

I know youre just lampooning the tinfoil hat brigade, Liam, but I would say very few people feel we get alot of major decisions against us. Except in Europe with "that" game.

The media, however, is a different story.