The Second Captains Podcast Ep 3656: Manchester Is Blue But City See Red, Referees Dominate The Premier League Weekend, A Pro Ref Apology - 14/09/26
Sep 14, 2026
William Ralston, football writer and author of The Impossible Job, brings rare insight from researching referees across Europe and working at grassroots level. The discussion explores the weekend’s Premier League controversies, VAR’s impact, ProRef’s first apology, and the intense psychology of officiating. There’s also debate on elite refereeing, managerial pressure, Ballon d’Or hype, and the League of Ireland title race.
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Foden Red Card Helped City Find Clarity
- Manchester City benefited strategically when Phil Foden’s red card simplified their structure against ten-man opposition.
- Manchester United failed to exploit their numerical advantage, while City became more compact and effective.
VAR Missed The Real Offside Offence
- VAR overturned a correct offside decision by focusing on Erling Haaland while missing Enzo Fernandes interfering with the goalkeeper.
- Pro Ref later admitted the error and acknowledged that Fernandes’s position should have triggered an on-field review.
Arteta Turned A Win Into Referee Pressure
- Mikel Arteta attacked a penalty decision immediately after Arsenal won 2–0, calling the grappling incident a “judo roll.”
- The discussion noted Arsenal’s frequent bear-hug defending and their unusual success avoiding penalties.
