01 Oct 2026 16:18:36
So, no that we can all assume city are cheats and corrupt what's everyone's thoughts on them paying refs?
For example a couple of seasons ago we drew with them but in my opinion should have had a last min pen when Doku kicked Mac Allister in the chest. But nothing.
Was that ref paid off?
Coote has shown that not all refs are professional people.
{Ed666's Note - I’ll talk about anything if it means we do t have to discuss Wirtz
01 Oct 2026 16:39:16
Ouch!
01 Oct 2026 16:49:52
What about decisions that have went Liverpools way over the years? Did Liverpool pay those refs off as well?
01 Oct 2026 16:58:08
Wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if city's cheating was limited to cooking the books.
Doping with performance enhancing drugs has followed Pep around since his 2 failed tests as a player so wouldn't be surprised if City is also doing it.
And wouldn't be surprised if Refs are being bought as well by them, they have had some questionable decisions over the years and some refs did go over there a few years ago for some nice little side earners.
01 Oct 2026 17:28:52
Did pep receive an apology for his doling as a player?
01 Oct 2026 18:19:40
The Spurs/Diaz goal game with the VAR that had just got back from Saudi. Imo was the clearest ever indication of officials having been paid off.
01 Oct 2026 18:49:32
Wasn't there rumours a few years back while Pep was in charge of injured City players being sent to Spain for treatment and getting back to fitness in double quick?
Like I said only a rumour.
01 Oct 2026 18:08:56
So Ed666 let's talk about Wirtz lol.
{Ed666's Note - that made me chuckle so hard you have no idea mate ?
01 Oct 2026 19:00:56
100% Refs getting paid off, look at the state of the Bias, it's just as obvious as the charges before made guilty and Everyone knows it
Interesting comments coming from the prime minister, back handers when he was mayor of Manchester maybe? Get him checked aswel, old tax dodger over there at number 10.
01 Oct 2026 19:13:04
Bristol_Red were they being bathed in Horse gism?
01 Oct 2026 19:22:18
Honestly
I've no idea. It's just as likely as a thing else
Barca had 2 decades of paying the referees off.
Ultimately I think there's a serious problem with the a little of referees withing the game who never played and are afraid to make big decisions is what it's down to. Was it the Rodri handball Vs Everton too? The clear penalty Vs sait. Maximan among 10s of not hundreds that city got as well as fernandinho making 10 fouls before he'd see a yellow.
I think the problem stems from the fa though not paying the refs off. They prioritise young referees over competent referees because they can stay in the Industry longer
There's also been no change in refs fees since I was playing under 11s I run a team now at 40 and we still pay them the same wage we paid refs in the 90s/00s £45 to arrive 30 mins before kick off. 1.30 pm Saturday 2 hours work. Then drove 30 minutes back. This is less than minimum wage to run around because spat at, punched verbally abused.
It's no wonder the top talent don't stick around.
Sadly Its simply incompetence from my POV
Sorry ed666 I know you hate my long replies.
{Ed666's Note - get it off your chest mate no apologies needed
01 Oct 2026 20:12:56
Didnt the Ciry owners also pay for a ref to go on holiday in Dubai or. to ref some games in Saudi or something along those lines? But yeah. nothing to see there.
01 Oct 2026 22:14:13
Said it for years, imo refs definitely on the take.
01 Oct 2026 22:15:25
That was a shocking decision, Duke, absolutely shocking. However, like Irish says, we've had loads of decisions go our way over the years. We need to stop this "everything goes against us" guff.
01 Oct 2026 23:03:54
Refs getting paid off. tehe ole human factor/influence. Luckily I've been quietly advised that we will have robotic refs running around within the next two years (currently being tested in China), all with built in whistles.
Which leads into the question how long until the players are robots and that leads into the question do you think the current Man City squad might have some hidden bionics up their sleeves? , or down their socks.
02 Oct 2026 00:29:52
I think there should be an investigation. I know some on here don't like this talk or want to talk about calls that go our way, but there's an easy way to answer this question: do an actual assessment of the refs performances.
It's not hard, it just takes time an will and can all be modeled. Bad refs mean bad calls/contentious noncalls are made against all teams equally. Biased refs mean that bad/contentious calls go for one team statistically more often.
02 Oct 2026 01:45:39
I think it's naive to think that refs don't get paid off.
There's so much money in the game with clubs and betting syndicates able to earn absolute fortunes it doesn't take too much imagination to assume that they will be doing everything they can to make sure the odds are in their favour.
Refs are an easy win. They don't get paid anything remotely close to what the players get paid so will be very easy to incentivise and they can have real time material impact on a game.
It won't be just for one team as that would be too obvious but you can bet your bottom dollar they are manipulating results for financial gain.
Just look at the levels of dishonesty the City owners have stooped to so they can gain an advantage. Do you honestly believe they are above bribing a ref?
It happens. It would be more of a surprise if it didn't happen in my opinion.
{Ed666's Note - I dont know about the refs but someone needs to check Slots bank account after the way we played last season!!
02 Oct 2026 07:48:35
Infantinio - you may jest, but who ref's today's games? The man in the middle is there for the simpler decisions, the two linesmen don't do anything anymore, apart from wave the flag 3 weeks after an offside. There used to be linesmen on the goal line - I don't know what they did, but they didn't last long.
How many men in the broom cupboard at Stockley park, and what's their influence on a game - in constant correspondence with the ref via an ear piece.
So your little robots may replace that symbolic man in the middle. because we're not 100% sure who does what?
Robots cannot do worse?