I think it’s simpler than that - I think this generation of refs grew up chanting “Same old Arsenal, always cheating” as our players were brought down with brutal tackles. We’re slowly rebranding ourselves as a tough, no-nonsense team, but public opinion takes time to catch up and that of referees takes even longer.
On top of all of that, psychologically the team that wins the league is going to get a lot of leeway due to confirmation bias - they won, so they must be a good team, so of course they didn’t mean to snap his ankle or timewaste.
I think it’s even simpler than that: Michael Oliver got paid by Man City’s owners. Publicly. Subconscious or not that’s bias and conflict of interest there.
I think it’s simpler than that - I think this generation of refs grew up chanting “Same old Arsenal, always cheating” as our players were brought down with brutal tackles. We’re slowly rebranding ourselves as a tough, no-nonsense team, but public opinion takes time to catch up and that of referees takes even longer.
On top of all of that, psychologically the team that wins the league is going to get a lot of leeway due to confirmation bias - they won, so they must be a good team, so of course they didn’t mean to snap his ankle or timewaste.
I think it’s even simpler than that: Michael Oliver got paid by Man City’s owners. Publicly. Subconscious or not that’s bias and conflict of interest there.