The Voice - Match preview #28: Bradford City vs Doncaster Rovers Saturday 31st January 2026 12:30pm

I'm not one to bag the ref or linesman every week but not withstanding the controversial penalty, I thought the officiating yesterday was generally quite poor.

 

Don't know where it originated from but I don't think it's the most important issue that we need to be focusing on. The big question is whether the 4th official (for whatever reason, either xray vision, watching a playback on an iPad or being influenced by the Donny bench who had), overruled a decision made by the ref. The rules clearly state that the 4th official cannot override or reverse a decision made on the pitch so if the ref had given the goal which I believe he had, and the linesmen didn't flag it, which he didn't, the goal should have stood, regardless of it being handball.

 

The ref made the decision though. It's up to the ref whether he takes advice from the 4th official. He could've decided to ignore the 4th official.

 

The handball decision was correct IMO, but the way it was achieved was wrong.
Next thing to happen will be a supporter five rows back showing his smart phone to an official with a better angle of the incident so he can tell the ref to go and have a look.

 

The point is whether the ref had given the goal before he spoke to the 4th official, which I believe he had. In that case, the goal should stand regardless of what the 4th official says because the rules state he can't reverse a decision made on the pitch.

 

Cheltenham in the FA cup double whistle or not
Was again one that went against us
Maybe we remember them as they went against us and not decisions in our favour

 

He either did award a goal or he didn't. He doesn't indicate anything. On the rv replay he stands for a good few seconds looking hesitant. The camera cuts away after about 5 seconds so I'm not sure what he did after that. Did he rum back to the centre circle, point towards their half, walk over to the dugout?

 

Aye the Cheltenham one is a fair shout.

 

In reference to Gibson
I think it was more his dads constant twitter facebooksrama bleating that his son was the second coming without that he would have been quickly forgotten like the hundreds of other footballers who failed to make a mark at VP
This led to the goading and I think fired up the lad in games against us
He has done very little else

 

If it comes to light that they have used an ipad to flag it up from the oppo team then the officals should be fooked for it ..............last thing we need is suddenly benches with people just sitting there watching the game waiting to flag a decision up should it go agsinst them.

 

Average ?????
I think they are poor on the whole .........

 

I disagree. In the time that elapses between the shot going in and the 4th official intervening there was certainly time for Sky to have shown a replay of the ‘goal’.

 

I went from the lounge throught the kitchen and through into the pantry and returned to see the ref pointing for a free kick .

20-30 seconds . Thats a bloody long time!

 

I was trying to be fair
If I wrote what I wanted to say though, the thought police would quickly be on my case

 

More beer or a bag of crisps/nuts

 

The handball, while it looked like an actual handball, wasn't THAT clear on the highlights, so I can't believe an iPad could have been involved?

In real time, I cant see how they could have produced convincing enough evidence to overturn the decision like that?

Maybe that did happen and is the case, but until confirmed it seems more likely the 4th official simply saw the handball himself.

 

Think you maybe surprised, Donny fan below. Sitting in the kop I did look towards the dugouts and the coaching staff were certainly talking to the 4th official but it was hard to see if they were showing him something. The only reason I looked is that my mate stood up but didn't actually celebrate as he said it's handball isn't it so I started watching the officials. I have a feeling they could be in some trouble over this one, but we will see.

 

Decisions can change, they only can't change once play has restarted. If the referee gets information after from another official he is free to reverse his decision before play restarts.