I think there is a bias. Not a huge bias, but enough to make a difference.

It's minor aspects of interpretation.

Good strong tackle by small club player on mega talented midfielder of giant club. Foul - players like that need protection.

Good strong tackle by ultra talented enforcer of giant club on up and coming youngster playing for minor club. No foul for me Clive, he's just used his experience and you've got to expect that.

A slight tilt in favour of the big club across all decisions will make a huge difference over the course of a game. Lots more possession, lots more free kicks in dangerous areas, lots more penalties.

I have a theory actually. You know how fans of big clubs always think that referees screw them in big games against big clubs, and often both sets think the ref has tucked them up at the same time? That can only be explained by my theory. Most of the season (~28 games) their club gets the rub of the green across all decisions, as they're the big club getting refs to bend their way. When its big club versus big club (~10 games), no bias anymore and the game is called much more even. To the fan of the big club, this looks like, all of a sudden, they're not getting calls as they should. And both sets of each big club see it the same way, and hence both simultaneously think the ref has screwed them.

Or something.

Posted By: Under soil heating, Apr 1, 10:15:22