I really don't understand this UAE and Saudi argument. Infact, it actually dilutes the issue completely and we're almost allowing our referees to be incompetent because of these silly conspiracy theories.
You're looking at the argument from the wrong angle. This isn't about conspiracy theories, it is about conflict of interest, which have been proven by research time and time again to have a great effect on influencing the subconscious part of the human mind. It's a reason there are strict policies regarding gifts, especially in politics, but also all kind of other stuff like bidding/voting processes.
Would you see the problem if Liverpool decided to pay refs in the PL to freelance for Liverpool kids matches for 50k a game, or if United decided to gift refs expensive gifts before every game at Old Trafford? It's basically the same thing.
I'm not on any conspiracy train. in fact, It is the oposite. I'm close to positive that Oliver and any other ref in PL is doing their best to make as fair decisions as possible. Which should highlight the problem.
The penalty on Sunday was obviously a foul but there are similar offences that go unpunished.
So would you agree that VAR in genereal would be better off staying away from intervening in these kind of offences? If not, they should intervene in all of them.
The Haaland one later on was a penalty but there doesn't seem to be any consipiracy calls for that?
I wouldn't know as I didn't see second half but I'm sure there are plenty conspiracy calls for that one as well.
"Ball goes out for a corner and linesman pretends he doesn't see it and gives the rags a throw-in! fecking cheat." - BlueMoon, on a corner, 2-0 up.
The essence of my post was about something else though.