*** The official 2025/26 Premier League thread ***

Lost Mango said:

Don't think it is financially corrupt but think there is a massive bias and pressure to ensure uncontroversial results based on any of their decisions.. Call it wrong against Fergie or at Anfield and refs lives were made hell in the media and they subconciously played it safe the next time they reffed.

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I think you’ve hit the tickle my balls with a feather…However, I believe the Premier League has also reinforced the idea that entertainment / value of the PL should also be taken into consideration (I.e new winner every 6 years, trying not to take too long on VAR etc)

Both of those are corruption imo. If there’s any bias at all then it’s not fair. Why should a player at the top of the league not get sent off because it could cause an upset. Ridiculous.

All teams should have the same rules, and it would be easy to do this.

Liked seeing what the Burnley co-owner put out on social media

elyid said:

I think you’ve hit the tickle my balls with a feather…However, I believe the Premier League has also reinforced the idea that entertainment / value of the PL should also be taken into consideration (I.e new winner every 6 years, trying not to take too long on VAR etc)

Both of those are corruption imo. If there’s any bias at all then it’s not fair. Why should a player at the top of the league not get sent off because it could cause an upset. Ridiculous.

All teams should have the same rules, and it would be easy to do this.

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Totally agree.

But also the narrative from media/ex-pros etc - "too early in the game for a red card", or "the ref has changed the game with that decision" - no the player/manager has done that by breaking a rule. All BS. Rules apply to everyone.

elyid said:

That’s a great point. Why aren’t they ashamed? Instead they’re constantly gaslighting to justify their bad decision.

In a normal environment they’d be apologising and saying it’s not up to scratch but they are trying to do better… every part of PGMOL is a disgrace really.

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Yep, you think of the main organisation that upholds the LAWS in every country and at least they totally respect what a law actually is. They may not be able to cope with the sheer amount of crimes happening and they might even have some wronguns in their organisation. On the whole though, they are perceived as the good guys in society. They give their best every day.

Wouldn't you just love to sit down with a PL ref and explain to him why they're called LAWS in the first place. They're not rough guidelines. They are laws of the game.

Personally, I hate gaslighting but the clubs who get the best outcomes from PGMOL are the ones that gaslit them the most. Klopp was probably the biggest gaslighter there was with PGMOL. Webbs got that same horrible trait in him. It's coming back the other way with him. Webb couldn't even tell you who his customer is and who pays his salary.