Are officials biased towards top teams?

I've always thought so. Today I was almost embarrased we had so many decisions go our way, the officials were awful. Ipswich must feel we were being favoured because we're in the Premiership.

So do the officials lean towards the top teams without realising they're doing it?

 

Yes They Are! Add A Poll,

 

thats where the scrutiny will come from, so its understandable they may do it, even if it is subconciously.

 

I definately think so. There have been many cases against us where it isnt just Premiership teams but the bigger clubs in general. Everton being prime example (plus many more).

As Aidy once said "Hes only Darius Henderson.."

 

Ohh dear, everton :rant: :rant:

 

In all honesty I think they do but not to any severe extent. Certainly not regularly to the extent where whole results hinge on it. Ipswich can moan all they like about today yet only 6 weeks ago we had the 'pleasure' of witnessing Mr Bennett do his best to fark up our game at Fulham with some pisspoor attempts at refereeing. Maybe he's just a homer? Maybe he's crap? Maybe he does favour big sides? Or maybe - just maybe - he gives what he sees.

At the end of the day Premiership refs can't help it if they know the name of Wayne Rooney but not Johan Cavalli (the name issue is one of the biggest complaints from smaller clubs). At the end of the day they're football fanatics too. How many (say) Hull fans could name Cavalli? I'd bet not 1. Yet they could all name Rooney. So you're the referee and you want to calm a player down. Knowing someone's name is a great disarming tactic. But if you don't know if you're going to call them "8" or "Yellow 41". Immediately the smaller team's backs are up by this and they start being disrepectful back. And bingo you have a vicious circle. Before you know it they're back in the dressing room after the match telling their manager the ref was favouring opposition players and the manager walks to the press and in the heat of the moment tells them this. In that situation would you say the ref is favouring the club he knows the player names from? Of course not. Most of it is in the mind.

 

I think if your a linesman if think its easy to be subconciously favourable to bbig teams players, if you saw henderson in miles of space when the balls been played through to him and your not sure if he's off you would assume he was as a striker who isn't that good couldn't make that much room whereas if it was henry you would think, yer, thats how quick and well timed his runs are, sad but true

 

You're right to an extent. But the opposite has often been true in the recent past - exceptionally fast players like Henry have been penalised for being offside when in fact they were most certainly onside when the ball was played. It's simply such players extraordinary pace which got them into such unusual positions.

 

Interesting. Whilst watching the pre match warm up Bennett and his cronies ran in front of the Rookery. Alec made a point of stopping Bennett to shake his hand and recite all the names on our team sheet wish him well for the game ahead.

 

Alec greeted him warmly at Fulham too. The effect was not the same.