Is PGMOL failing the Premier League with controversial refereeing decisions? | OneFootball

Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly was controversially sent off against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, prompting outrage among fans.

Referee Michael Oliver deemed the challenge worthy of a red card, and VAR upheld the decision.

However, the football community, including former referee Keith Hackett, has widely criticised the call, describing it as a ‘clear and obvious error’.

The incident adds to long-standing frustrations regarding Oliver’s officiating among Arsenal fans.

While claims of bias are often dismissed as conspiracy theories, statistics regarding his decisions against Arsenal lend some weight to their grievances.

Oliver has penalised Arsenal more harshly than most teams he officiates. He has awarded more penalties per game against them than any other club he regularly referees.

Arsenal are in the top half for yellow and red cards received, as well as fouls conceded, when compared to the eight teams Oliver has officiated most frequently in his career.

These figures, while not definitive proof of bias, are damning in their implications. They suggest the possibility of unconscious biases influencing decision-making.

Referees are subject to subconscious tendencies, even if they believe they are impartial. For Arsenal fans, such data offers some justification for their suspicions.

However, the bigger issue is not Oliver specifically but the Professional Game Match Officials Limited’s (PGMOL) inability to address such controversies effectively.

By doubling down on contentious calls like Lewis-Skelly’s red card and shielding referees from meaningful scrutiny, the organisation creates an atmosphere where trust in officiating erodes.

Since the introduction of VAR, the illusion of consistency and fairness has only heightened fans’ frustrations. Referees have become central figures in matches, often overshadowing the players.

Decisions like Saturday’s serve as a stark reminder of how subjective football’s laws remain, even under the microscope of video technology.

PGMOL’s reluctance to address these issues leaves fans feeling unheard and antagonised, feeding the perception of unfairness.

The problem is not necessarily bias. It’s the PGMOL’s refusal to acknowledge and address mistakes, enabling referees’ errors to fester and alienate supporters.

Until there is real accountability, the perception of injustice will remain a stain on the Premier League.