22 Mar 2026 07:26:47
I am concerned by what was clearly something very wrong with the refereeing on Friday night.
Referee Stuart Attwell and VAR Craig Pawson were the same referee and VAR who wrongfully disallowed Martinez's equaliser against Burnley, another 2.2. The Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel said that Martinez's goal should not have been ruled out by Stuart Attwell.
I understand Friday was Attwell's first game since he disallowed Martinez’ goal at Burnley. (Please correct me on that if I am wrong).
Attwell has officiated 24 matches involving United across all competitions. In those games:
1. He has issued 2 red cards to United players, compared to 0 for opposition players.
2. He has shown 46 yellow cards to United players, against just 8 for opposition players.
The glaring error of not awarding the penalty on Amad cost us the win.
I was sat with an opposition fan who does not like us and he gives us nothing, yet he said it was an absolute stone wall penalty and that we had been done. This looks like incompetence to the point where I actually think we should be worried there is real systemic anti United bias. A letter from the club complaining is a start but on this occasion the decision was so bad in that it should have been a penalty, could have been 2.0 but because of that error became 1.1
I actually believe we should ask for the game to be replayed and Attwell never to referee our games again. Yes it sounds extreme and some if not most will dismiss it, yet the only way we are going to force a change in referring is by addressing such huge errors with drastic action.
22 Mar 2026 09:02:23
Red Man, he also missed/ignored Walker's stamp on Dorgu in the Burnley game too. I feel like you. You can accept mistakes by refs, but now we have VAR and they still make the same mistake. It's really hard to feel like it's not cheating.
He was so quick to get the red card out as well for Maguire. No time for thought, no discussion with the "assistant referees". Ultimately, I'm not livid with that decision, but the speed of it and ignoring the Amad one just makes zero sense IMO.
I think teams should be allowed to name 3 refs at the start of the season they do not want refereeing their games. I have said for years now that refs should be made to stand in front of the camera after the game and explain their decisions. They're full time, well paid professionals now.
22 Mar 2026 09:38:56
I might add, I'm not sure about the game being replayed, although I get your point, but I am glad Carrick came out and questioned it. It feels like our last few managers have just accepted poor decisions by refs and let it slide.
We need a manager who's prepared to take a fine, but call it out and put pressure back on refs. Klopp and Guardiola have both done it, and it does make a difference. SAF was the best at it.
22 Mar 2026 10:42:05
Ports
If you look at the reaction by some commentators and ex Ref Mike Dean, there is a clear bias. It is almost like, you got the decision under SAF, when you get done now, ha, you deserve it. How many referees feel like that?
With Attwell, it has to be said he was poor more than once to the level where you have to ask, are there underlying reasons? On Friday there was clear error, that surely VAR should have corrected, a decision where you can 100% bet if it had been Liverpool or City they would have got the penalty. So there were two errors, the referee and the coward on VAR.
It cost two points. Don't even mention asking where 9 minutes came from!
I rarely rage about referees in posts as much as this, but Friday was unacceptable and I am concerned there is an underlying systemic bias against Utd, highlighted by the 'it's finally retribution' attitude shown afterwards, that needs to be stamped out. We should not have to sacrifice any manager for a fine. Maybe we should take a lead from others and threaten legal recovery action against the PGMOL, especially if we miss Champions League by a point.
22 Mar 2026 12:16:46
In the Amad one, I think the ref cannot see the contact from his position, Ahmad's body blocking his view. However, for VAR not to intervene is criminal.
The PGMOL need to look into these stats for officials, when dubious decisions and cards lie far outside their norms.
I think most teams have at least one ref who fits this criteria.
22 Mar 2026 12:21:40
The biggest issue from Friday was the fact VAR said the Amad one was not a penalty, but the Maguire one was. I suspect it was because they scored, but there is really no excuse for such blatant inconsistency.
22 Mar 2026 15:46:37
I can't agree with replaying games. That would open up a whole can of worms and be farcical.
Yes, crazy decision, and standards are getting worse, but replaying games is nonsense and unrealistic. Where would it end... So do we now go back to the AFCON and replay that farce too?
Sadly, we have to grin and bear it.
That is the reality. I think conspiracy theories are a bit childish, too... they are just not that good a standard, refs are far better in the Champions League. But they also get it wrong, and you would expect VAR to get it right most of the time!
22 Mar 2026 23:02:30
I think it was as simple as the ref not having the cojones to give two penalties to the away team.
Bottle job.
23 Mar 2026 07:02:51
Nou,
"The ref"? No, both refs? On-field and VAR?
I think the PGMOL needs to give Utd assurances that the clear anti Utd bias is not going to continue. By that, I am talking about the reaction comments showing clearly what too many are thinking. It's underlying and underpinning the situation. It has to be stamped out. Friday was a disgrace for the referees' body.