Maybe, just maybe this one wasn’t about Michael Oliver. To a hammer everything looks like a nail and a large portion of the online response to Liam Roberts’ challenge – transl: insane flying head-kick – on Jean-Philippe Mateta was anger at Oliver’s refusal to give an instant red card. It did seem obvious straight away from the stands that this was a red card. But both managers said after the game they weren’t clear in the moment how bad it had been. It was also clear Oliver hadn’t missed it, didn’t show a deluded yellow or wave play on, but was instead allowing himself to lean on VAR, letting the tech freeze the moment and make absolutely sure. The right decision emerged almost instantly. It wasn’t an oversight, or further damning evidence of incompetence. It was, as the phrase goes, “good process” given the tech is there and referees are supposedly a team. This may have felt like the right moment for an instant punitive brandishing of a card. But Oliver wasn’t the villain here. Barney Ronay
For a start, he did give a yellow card didn't he if I remember rightly? Secondly, his job is to spot fouls and given cards appropriately, not wait for VAR to do it. He had this view, why the he'll as a professional referee did he need VAR?
Maybe, just maybe this one wasn’t about Michael Oliver. To a hammer everything looks like a nail and a large portion of the online response to Liam Roberts’ challenge – transl: insane flying head-kick – on Jean-Philippe Mateta was anger at Oliver’s refusal to give an instant red card. It did seem obvious straight away from the stands that this was a red card. But both managers said after the game they weren’t clear in the moment how bad it had been. It was also clear Oliver hadn’t missed it, didn’t show a deluded yellow or wave play on, but was instead allowing himself to lean on VAR, letting the tech freeze the moment and make absolutely sure. The right decision emerged almost instantly. It wasn’t an oversight, or further damning evidence of incompetence. It was, as the phrase goes, “good process” given the tech is there and referees are supposedly a team. This may have felt like the right moment for an instant punitive brandishing of a card. But Oliver wasn’t the villain here. Barney Ronay
For a start, he did give a yellow card didn't he if I remember rightly? Secondly, his job is to spot fouls and given cards appropriately, not wait for VAR to do it. He had this view, why the he'll as a professional referee did he need VAR?
He did not give a card at all (and play even continued). I am not entirely against the idea that he was letting VAR do the heavy lifting, but I am not sure this is what is intended. I suspect he processed in his head the shit he would get from Millwall fans if he gave a red and let VAR take the blame instead, but that is a lot to consider in a split second.
It’s like a more serious version of when someone does an overhead kick, ooooh how great it looks, the only way a defender usually gets a foul is if they put their head in there to get kicked ffs when it’s clearly dangerous play
Need to hope that Villa and City both win today and one of them gets Palace in the semi final. If Palace get Forest i think they'll win.
Which is exactly why I wanted Millwall to beat them in the last round. Millwall would have had zero chance of winning the cup, but the stripy pricks just might
Need to hope that Villa and City both win today and one of them gets Palace in the semi final. If Palace get Forest i think they'll win.
It's so annoying. Clearly every right thinking man wants the underdogs to win this afternoon. But, the very scenario you set out causes a massive dilemma.
It's bloody Fulham's fault, coming over all Charlton on their big day...
Need to hope that Villa and City both win today and one of them gets Palace in the semi final. If Palace get Forest i think they'll win.
Which is exactly why I wanted Millwall to beat them in the last round. Millwall would have had zero chance of winning the cup, but the stripy pricks just might
I'm afraid to say that Palace have some good players and it's why I said 🤐they would end up probably just into the top half of the table even when they were around the bottom 3. Walton, Eze, Guéhi, Mateta, Lerma, Sarr, and Henderson are talented ☹️ and the rest put in a shift.
There is a worrying trend beginning in Dartford, and I hope I am wrong - during last week I saw a teenage girl with a Palace shirt on in Dartford High Street - then yesterday we went to Dartford station, walk onto platform and 2 Palace fans with Palace shirts on stood there - they shouted ‘Eagles’ at us, and got both barrels back from me !!!
I fully expect to see Millwall and Charlton fans around here - that’s normal - but Palace is totally unacceptable
Comments
now for palarse to fuck off
Come on Fulham.
If he was that concerned, why not follow him to hospital rather than hijacking the HT discussion.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/mar/03/fa-cup-fifth-round-talking-points-from-the-weekends-matches
Oliver right to let VAR punish Roberts
For a start, he did give a yellow card didn't he if I remember rightly?
Secondly, his job is to spot fouls and given cards appropriately, not wait for VAR to do it.
He had this view, why the he'll as a professional referee did he need VAR?
Millwall would have had zero chance of winning the cup, but the stripy pricks just might
It's so annoying. Clearly every right thinking man wants the underdogs to win this afternoon. But, the very scenario you set out causes a massive dilemma.
It's bloody Fulham's fault, coming over all Charlton on their big day...
I'm afraid to say that Palace have some good players and it's why I said 🤐they would end up probably just into the top half of the table even when they were around the bottom 3.
Walton, Eze, Guéhi, Mateta, Lerma, Sarr, and Henderson are talented ☹️ and the rest put in a shift.
Spanners out-cnut us!
They really are desperate to find an identity aren't they