I think the issue is that it has shone a spotlight on some of the more recent rule changes and just how fucking stupid and put of touch they are. And that leaves the refs and VARrefs in a terrible position. Granted they’re still a bunch of arrogant pricks not making it easy on themselves but the problem is not all of their own making.
2005 Champions League qualifier Everton Vs Villareal. As background UEFA didnt want 5 English clubs in the Champs league but because Liverpool won it and Everton came 4th they eventually gave in. However, they talked Pierluigi Collina put of retirement and he was clearly under strict instructions to get the ‘right’ result. He whistled us off the park culminating in him disallowing a Duncan Ferguson goal when it was actually Ferguson being fouled. An absolute corrupt disgrace of a performance by Collina and frankly I still wish a plague on his house and all around him.
Graeme Souness, Jimmy Case, Dennis Wise (sly little shit). That’s just off the top of my head.