RateTheRef

Ref Watch is stating that it's the correct decision because it's stopped a goal.

Gallagher saying that the laws were changed a season or so ago.

https://x.com/oyimzy/status/2013065997125566495?s=46

This is extraordinary. On no level is any of this acceptable.

I think it should be a red card. High, late, at speed. Surely it’s endangering Doku?

Haaland was offside due to the positioning of Pope and Thiaw. I really don't think that is debatable.

However, and this is my major issue, we are told that he has to be interfering with play to be offside. We've gone over similar decisions where goals have been allowed (Ouattara v Chelsea) or disallowed (Van Dijk v Man City) and there is absolutely no consistency.

Let's go through them in order.

Ouattara - clearly offside, middle of goal, attempts to kick the ball. VAR doesn't even consider his offside position (as highlighted on the Mic'd Up show). Webb says this decision is correct despite him having the most impact - by actually trying to kick the ball - out of these three incidents. Goal allowed.

Van Dijk - keeper was not getting anywhere near the ball, Robinson doesn't try to play the ball, has no impact on the keeper's actions. Goal disallowed. Webb says this is a defendable decision.

Semenyo - keeper has actively jumped the wrong way. Ball absolutely flies off Semenyo past Haaland (about a yard away) who does not attempt to play the ball, and is jostling with Thiaw, who also had no chance to play the ball given his proximity and speed of the ball. VAR does at least notice the offside (unlike Ouattara) but then makes the error of thinking he is interfering.

We've got this all about face. The clearest offside offence saw the goal given (due mainly to the VAR not even considering it) and the other two - which should have stood - are disallowed.

VAR is absolutely shambolic, and that's before we get to the SAOT breaking down and the absurd length of time it's taking. This check took 5+ minutes, the one for Ouattara was cleared in under 20 seconds.

Shame on Martinelli, who epitomises the attitude of the manager who feels he can do whatever he wants.

It absolutely should have been two yellows for the same incident, something he has previous for!

It does very clearly look offside..

I think it was a penalty by Chalobah, but those decisions are very rarely given when a player is shielding the ball out of play. It's infuriating.

The bookings for dissent were after Madley missed clear fouls - not excusing the dissent at all but had he got the original decisions correct the players would not be frustrated.

No idea how Barnes wasn't booked for a shameless and embarrassing dive which Madley correctly identified.

Quote from: El Referee on Sun 30 Nov 2025 18:49

I’ve not seen a freeze frame yet, but if Enzo is in an offside position for the Chelsea goal; is anyone chalking it off for interfering?

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal: Should Trevoh Chalobah's opening goal have been disallowed due to Enzo Fernandez being in an offside position? https://www.skysports.com/share/13477896

I've not seen conclusive proof that Enzo is offside (can't see the defender's feet on the stills I have seen).

However, assuming he was in an offside position then it absolutely should have been ruled out, for the same reason Brentford's equaliser against Chelsea should have been (but wasn't). I'm not sure if Enzo is trying to play the ball, but he is offside and impacting the defender. Equally, Arsenal's goal against Spurs should have been ruled out with 2 players in the eyeline of the keeper.

It seems like we're getting more and more decisions that might be technically correct but would not be what fans expect. I'd like the laws to result in decisions that are easily supportable by fans.