Disregarding the controversies surrounding VAR, Mikel Arteta’s discomfort, the arrogance displayed by certain clubs, Anthony Taylor’s decisions, the relentless schedule, vocal radio pundits, questionable offside calls, and the intricacies of handball rules, the Premier League’s fate ultimately rests on the performance of its teams. The best team will claim the top spot, and the weakest will languish at the bottom. It’s essential not to lend credence to the idea that VAR compromises the game’s integrity.
What truly impacts the Premier League’s credibility is the presence of players attempting to deceive referees, managers tolerating such behavior, and clubs like Arsenal supporting their manager’s self-assured comments.
When the 20 CEOs or owners convene in a prestigious London hotel to negotiate their next multibillion-dollar TV deal, they should consider the perspectives of their managers and players. Encouraging them to find common ground with officials and recognizing that referees aim to uphold fairness in their own way is crucial. Ange Postecoglou’s remarks are particularly enlightening; he acknowledges that over the past 25 years, he has experienced favorable and unfavorable rulings, illustrating the age-old notion that things tend to even out. Ange deserves credit for this astute observation.
However, the likelihood of persuading players and fellow managers to fully embrace the inevitability of referee judgments is modest at best. Postecoglou’s comment on the “constant erosion of the referee’s authority” stood out as the most memorable part of his post-game press conference on Monday.
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