Pep Guardiola
January 2026
Guardiola argued Tottenham’s first goal should not have stood after a contentious contact in the build-up/finish, as City blew a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2. City led through Cherki and Semenyo, then Solanke scored twice to level; Guardiola said similar contact by a defender on a striker is given as a penalty, and pointed to inconsistency in Premier League officiating.
Jean-Clair Todibo
January 2026
A mass brawl erupted late after Chelsea’s comeback winner, ending with Todibo shown a straight red card for violent conduct. The flashpoint began when Traore shoved Cucurella near the touchline. In the melee, Todibo grabbed Pedro by the throat; VAR reviewed and dismissed him. Players including Palmer and Mavropanos were involved as tempers flared.
Howard Webb
January 2026
Webb said officials were correct to book Dalot rather than send him off for a studs-up challenge on Doku that sparked debate. Webb argued the contact was brief and glancing and lacked the speed and intensity typical of serious-foul-play reds, warning that slow motion and freeze frames exaggerate force and distort real-time assessment that referees and VAR must prioritise.
Marc Cucurella
January 2026
Chelsea fans turned on Marc Cucurella after he was sent off at Fulham for denying a clear goalscoring chance, adding to Chelsea’s already high red-card total this season. Cucurella hauled back Harry Wilson after a long ball sent him through. VAR upheld the DOGSO red card, ruling the holding offence did not continue into the box. Fulham failed to score from the free-kick, and a later Wilson goal was offside.
Florian Wirtz
January 2026
Florian Wirtz said he was convinced his goal would be ruled offside after a long VAR check in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Fulham. The match swung late when Harrison Reed scored in stoppage time to deny Liverpool victory. Wirtz did not celebrate because he expected an offside call, while commentary later focused on the Premier League’s tolerance band within semi-automated offside, which can allow marginal decisions to stand. Carragher questioned how the goal was given.
Arne Slot
January 2026
Arne Slot criticised refereeing after Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Leeds, arguing Hugo Ekitike was denied a penalty because he stayed on his feet. Slot said Liverpool must keep their identity while pointing to what he views as a pattern of softer penalties being given against them. Slot cited multiple incidents this season where Liverpool did not receive spot-kicks after contact, while conceding penalties for minimal contact. He argued this dynamic influences players to stay upright, making it harder for referees and VAR to award penalties.
Antoine Semenyo
December 2025
Manchester United supporters erupted online after Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo escaped a red card for appearing to put his hand around Diogo Dalot’s throat during a heated confrontation, with VAR and the on-field referee settling on a yellow despite furious protests. The flashpoint came with the score at 1-1 as players from both sides piled in and Bruno Fernandes intervened, prompting claims of double standards from United fans on social media, who labelled the decision “pathetic” and argued similar incidents had previously brought dismissals.
Piero Hincapie
December 2025
Enzo Maresca argued Piero Hincapie should have been sent off for elbowing Trevoh Chalobah under the eye, criticising what he sees as inconsistent refereeing after Moises Caicedo was correctly dismissed for a dangerous tackle and referencing previous leniency shown to Rodrigo Bentancur against Chelsea. Hincapie received only a yellow following VAR review on the aerial clash that left Chalobah with visible facial swelling, while Caicedo’s studs-up lunge on Mikel Merino was upgraded to red, prompting Maresca to accept the dismissal but demand clarity on why similar high and reckless challenges are judged differently week to week.
Howard Webb
November 2025
Referee Lisa Benn has told an employment tribunal she was grabbed and “manhandled” by PGMOL coach Steve Child during a March 2023 VAR training game, claiming her complaint led to weaker references and ultimately cost her a place on FIFA’s international officials list. Child denies grabbing her, describing only a light guiding arm and rejecting accusations of sexist behaviour, while a PGMOL investigation deemed his conduct below the threshold for discipline; Benn insists female referees were treated differently and that her career progression stalled after speaking up.
Virgil van Dijk
November 2025
PGMOL confirmed the offside decision that cancelled Van Dijk’s header versus Manchester City was correct, citing Andy Robertson’s offside position and clear ducking action near the goalkeeper as interfering with play under Law 11. Liverpool had lodged a formal complaint. Webb explained the on-field team judged Robertson’s movement affected the keeper’s ability to attempt a save and VAR upheld it as not “clearly and obviously wrong.” The call remained subjective but within protocol, closing Liverpool’s challenge despite ongoing debate over interference thresholds.