Correct. People always presume that VAR will deliver better, correct, more consistent decisions. Then they are confronted with the reality of outcomes they don’t like and bemoan VAR’s existence

Tim Ream’s yellow card in the United States’ 4-1 win over Paraguay was reversed on Friday — an example of the new law changes introduced at this World Cup. Premier League referee Graham Scott says it was an important moment — because it set “three clear precedents which are unlikely to be reversed — and will lead to even more reviews in the future”. 📝 @Refsplaining 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/7356267…

Let’s discuss…

There are 182 players from the Premier League selected to play in the World Cup, and all will have become accustomed to that league’s fiercely competitive nature, with referees actively encouraged to permit a more physical approach. Those players are going to have to adjust, quickly, to the way matches will be refereed over the next month. Robust tackles will more often lead to free kicks even when the ball is won and the threshold for yellow cards will be lower. As we witnessed in Mexico City, players engaging in aggressive encounters with opponents better keep their hands to themselves, while anyone entering a tackle at full pelt will be taking a huge risk if they make significant contact with anything other than the ball. 📝 @Refsplaining Free to read: nyti.ms/4uwUk1S

Somali referee Omar Artan was about to realise a dream of officiating at the World Cup, until he was denied entry to the United States. It can take officials around 20 years from first blowing a whistle to being selected for international matches. You can become a brain surgeon in less time. History suggests he might not get the chance again. and the refereeing community has nothing but sympathy for his situation. 📝 @Refsplaining Free to read: bit.ly/4uJW1Jv

‘The standard of refereeing has never been lower’

Yet another politician making unrealistic promises. Number 4 is so ridiculous it casts doubt on all the others

From @TheAthleticFC: If referee calls had been correct, the Premier League title race would have entered the final match round with Manchester City two points clear of Arsenal, according to our analysis of key match decisions. nyti.ms/4ubgd6I

The Premier League title race would have entered the final match round with Manchester City two points clear of Arsenal, according to The Athletic’s analysis of key match decisions made by referees and their video assistants. ■ Arsenal, Chelsea and Sunderland benefitted the most from errors ■ Bournemouth earned four fewer points than they should have ■ Fulham should have qualified for the Europa League ■ An extra 17 red cards and 36 penalties should have been awarded @Refsplaining analyses every key match decision to evaluate how on-field and VAR refereeing decisions shaped the Premier League in 2025-26. Free to read here ⬇️ 🔗 nyti.ms/4fgCwnC

Who remembers my famous #VAR rant? 👀 Safe to say the @refsplaining team and #PremierLeague referees do! We revisit it — and much more — in our latest eye-opening episode. 🎙️ Listen here: pod.fo/e/421101 Powered by @playnimbusapp

From VAR chaos and tunnel confrontations to dressing room psychology, referee @Refsplaining has seen it all. A brilliant insight on the @chazaustin10 #podcast ⚽️#PremierLeague #EFL #Football 📻pod.fo/e/421101

‘Refereeing standards have never been lower’

Before referees, football relied on players and team umpires for disputes. This led to disagreements. The introduction of a neutral referee, first off-field and then on-field by the 1890s, brought control and fairness. #FootballHistory #SportsReferees

Call Hawk-Eye for an explanation. I bet you can’t get through on the phone either

▪️ The most impressive official of 2025-26 ▪️ … and the least impressive ▪️ The best and worst decisions ▪️ The player I’d least like to referee ▪️ The law that just didn’t work Former Premier League referee Graham Scott hands out his end-of-season awards… and explains what he would change next season. nytimes.com/athletic/7300212…

Man Utd 3 Nottm Forest 2 — Why was Cunha goal allowed? Fernandes equals Premier League assist record nytimes.com/athletic/7278934… via @NYTimes

Hearts manager Derek McInnes left no room for ambiguity when offering his view on the decision to award Celtic a penalty in the 99th minute of their match against Motherwell at Fir Park on Wednesday. “𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀. 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸. “𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘁. 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆. 𝗪𝗲’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆.” Kelechi Iheanacho’s controversially awarded spot-kick gave Celtic a 3-2 victory and ensured that Martin O’Neill’s side are just one point behind Hearts, who travel to Celtic Park on the final day of the season on Saturday. It's a decision that baffled many, including former Premier League referee Graham Scott. 📝 @Refsplaining | Free to read 🆓 nyti.ms/4uHBsO0

Arsenal can count themselves fortunate that West Ham’s added-time equaliser was ruled out after a VAR review. Goalkeepers are no longer a protected species in the Premier League, and there have been several goals allowed to stand this season, even when the ’keeper has been blocked or pinned to his goal line by an opponent. This case was different because replays showed that Raya was indeed impeded by Pablo as he attempted to deal with a cross. If referee Chris Kavanagh had been able to see the challenge through the melee, I am confident he would have penalised the attacker. The dilemma for VAR Darren England was not whether it was a foul, but whether it was a clear-and-obvious error. He couldn’t win. Whatever England did would have been controversial, but he decided to intervene when others would have stayed out, which is generally the better option if there is any doubt. 📝 Graham Scott 🔗 nyti.ms/4uE3zgY

"I don't think there's anything in it!" "His shirt is completely off!" A closer look at Ryan Leonard's disallowed goal 🔍

🤦‍♂️ "Martin will only see things from one perspective!" 😡 "To suggest because you kick a ball that you have more character than the ref is relatively insulting!" Simon Jordan hits back at Gerrard and Keown for their criticism of the referee during Atleti vs #AFC! 😡