The Voice - Match preview #21: Bradford City vs Wigan Athletic Friday 26th December 2025 15:00

I didn't think it was a red until i saw the TV replay after the game although my view from the lower kop of the original incident may play a part. If that goes to the hypothetical VAR in this case, on what grounds does the ref not upgrade it? Lets cut this myth about winning the ball, means nothing these days, a dangerous tackle overrules this. Struggling to think of anything else

 

This was also your reply earlier in the thread after seeing the still I posted so I'm not sure why you're so adamant that it's not a red.

 

Yeah, I posted earlier, I've no problem with the referees initial decision, it's an incredibly tough job and only seeing it once at full speed then it's difficult to opt for red unless you've seen it clearly and are absolutely sure.

For what it's worth, I didn't think the second was a red when I saw it live either but again, the foot was high and with the second leg following through perhaps that made the referees mind up from the angle he had.

 

I had a better view of the second one and my initial reaction was he might be off for that.

 

lol!

 

Wasn't Smallwood sent off for something similar back end of last season and was vilified by our fans for costing us the game. Over excessive force.

 

Swindon maybe?

 

Why not add column D? If the victim was a Sunderland player, would their reaction be different?
A lot of your posts indicate that you have a real downer against City fans. Do you think we are any different to others?

 

I don't see how you get that I have a downer on City fans. I genuinely don't at all. I have a downer in general on the notion that you have to see incidents through the eyes of the club you support. I try to be objective. I know it's a weird hill to die on for some but I just can't subscribe to the idea that all incidents should be seen through a partisan lense. As for your last question, no, I think most fans are radically bias in favour of their club.

If you add D) as your option then I'd 100% expect them to say it's a red. That's my point. They'd be saying it was a blatant red card but since they are neutral they are able to make a more rational judgement. It's the reason why you would never have a City supporter refereeing a City match. It'd be equally pointless going on the Wigan forum to get a perspective on the key incidents. There's many posts on there saying the ref lost them the game which is utter nonsense.

It's a superb board for everything football related. I'd show you some of the incidents on there in Sunderland games that they say should be red and you'd laugh your head off at how ridiculous the comments are because so many of them are ridiculously bias. Every forum is the same.

 

I think that most fans are fair and objective. I also think that a high lunge, studs first should be a red card.

 

I'm fairer than most on here, I certainly don't see anything football related though claret and amber spectacles yet that doesn't stop me from having an opinion that the challenge on Pointon in today's football is a straight red. I care nothing for what others on this forum or any other random football forum think,that is studs showing and out of control, the player saved in main to the honesty of Pointon who doesn't make a meal of it. It's no different to the challenge second half that gets a red.

 

I think both fall into the category of yellow one week, red the next. All about the referee on the day and how he sees it in the moment without the help of VAR.
In real time I didn't expect a red for the Pointon challenge but having seen the replay it looks the worst of the two, and the lad probably got away with one.

 

It's difficult for refs because of the speeds of incidents. To make a big decision, they have to be absolutely sure. In this case, I feel he was a bit unsure but had a change of mind 10 mins later when he saw the damage to Bobby's foot and boot.

 

100% this.
We don’t have VAR so we will always see occasions like yesterday.
But just because it might be a yellow in the opinion of another ref doesn’t mean yesterdays wasn’t a red.
With hindsight I genuinely don’t see how anybody can’t see that their player is out of control and endangering an opponent.

Still pictures don’t tell the whole story but they play a big part in VAR decisions whether people like it or not

Point of contact is a massive deciding factor and yesterday’s still image is pretty conclusive.

Shin high and above tackles have the potential to seriously hurt players and that clearly happened yesterday.

 

Nah, 'Roger from Sunderland' thinks it wasn't even a foul. You're clearly biased m8.

 

If they hadn't have banned 'the magic sponge' we wouldn't be having this conversation.

 

To wrap it up from me, I think it's telling that the challenge on Pointon would not gain any support away from here in terms of it being a red. I don't think it would've been a 'mistake' to give a red but seeing it in real time and on replay it would be extremely unlikely. I agree with you that the still offers a case for the red. There's plenty of posters on here including yourself that are balanced and fair on the whole but I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that a fan who has no connection to either club might offer a more impartial judgement. I don't think that's a particularly controversial take.

 

Oh do you remember Norman Corner getting a face full of the manky yellow sponge straight out of an old ball bladder full of ice cold water ? …..Feck that I’m getting up!