But PGMOL should not have any pre-conceived thoughts of this type. Their job is to be neutral, step on that pitch and uphold the laws of the game. What happens in your logic when PGMOL have it in their heads that Van Dijk isn't a dirty player. Do they make a different decision for Romero as they would for VVD when they do exactly the same thing?
This is the crux of the matter in hand.
But we have enough evidence that this does happen, in the same weekends, in almost frame by frame comparisons, and the data backs it up.
- VVD and Gabriel get away with murder compared to Romero
- Smaller players on Spurs side (Gil, Xavi) simply don't get the calls/protection say Grealish got at City, or Saka gets for Scum, lets not even talk about Vic.
I would hesitate to say we are being cheated against, but when one team gets no penalties for them all season (and no away penalties in 3 seasons) while 13 other teams in the league have gotten at least 4, 7 have got more than 6, there is an issue.
Make no mistake, ref's are affected by SAF/Wenger, now Arteta/Klopp's tirades and letters to PMGOL, the real corruption/incompetence question lies around VAR, even if the on field ref is under pressure by occasion/crowd/club, the whole point of VAR is an official not even at the ground, with time and resources to make the right call, ye somehow, time and time again, they fudge up.