Every 2024/25 Premier League club’s worst referee

The attractive sport’s regulation enforcers have a tough job: whether or not they’re maintaining gamers’ feelings in verify or mulling over a painstaking VAR resolution, being a Premier League referee is an unenviable job.

And when issues do not go their approach, supporters typically direct their ire in direction of the official within the center. Nevertheless, whether or not or not it’s justified is one other matter.

However are there referees that followers of sure golf equipment ought to actually dread the sight of? Which referees are least more likely to hand groups the good thing about the doubt, and are there any that might, statistically talking, present trigger for concern even earlier than a ball is kicked?

We have delved into the stats to reply these questions as we establish every Premier League membership’s ‘worst’ referee.

For this record, we have checked out referees’ stats with regard to pink playing cards given, penalties conceded and a staff’s win price underneath sure officers within the Premier League.

All energetic referees who took cost of a 2023/24 Premier League match have been thought-about for this record, whereas within the pursuits of equity, win charges are solely thought-about the place a referee has taken management of a minimum of 5 top-flight video games.

And with Ipswich Town not being within the Premier League for over 22 years previous to this season, we now have thought-about matches within the Championship and League One underneath the identical referees.

After all, there aren’t any conspiracies available right here; merely handing groups a sure variety of playing cards or penalties is on no account an indication of incompetence or bias – extra seemingly, it is only a ref doing their job.

However who do the stats, courtesy of Transfermarkt, level to if there’s such a factor as a ‘bogey’ referee? Let’s discover out…

All stats right as of Monday thirtieth September.

Arsenal

Michael Oliver

He could have been on the centre of more moderen controversy following the Gunners’ high-tempered draw at Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League, however Michael Oliver’s chequered history with the Gunners goes again a good bit.

Within the prime flight, Oliver has issued 6 pink playing cards and given 13 penalties towards the north Londoners, whereas Arsenal win simply 44% of their matches underneath him. Contemplating how a lot they win these days, that is a reasonably alarming statistic.

After all, as with a number of refs on this record, Oliver’s stats will naturally look worse as he takes management of Arsenal typically – solely Liverpool have had extra video games involving him.

That can also be the explanation Anthony Taylor can declare an in depth second, as he is additionally given 6 reds and 10 pens – however the Gunners win extra typically underneath him.

Aston Villa

Michael Oliver

Michael Oliver’s important crime right here is that he is been round for too lengthy. Nevertheless, these of an Aston Villa persuasion want look no additional for his or her refereeing nemesis.

Out of the energetic referees, nobody has given extra reds to Villa than the Northumberland man, whereas his tally of six penalties is a minimum of 4 greater than different ref’s. A woeful 27% win rate under Oliver merely provides insult to harm.

Chris Kavanagh and Paul Tierney are amongst those that may overtake him sooner or later, with the previous giving three reds and two pens within the house of simply 13 video games.

In the meantime, the Villans have received simply 2 in 11 underneath Tierney, having received none of their 9 matches underneath him previous to final season.

Bournemouth

Craig Pawson

There is not actually a standout candidate relating to Bournemouth’s referee stats, however Craig Pawson has drawn the brief straw on this event.

Within 16 Cherries games, Pawson has issued a pink card and three penalties towards them, together with a 31% win price. A type of penalties helped to disclaim Gary O’Neil’s facet victory at Newcastle in 2022, when Jefferson Lerma was harshly judged (by VAR) to have handled a cross from Kieran Trippier.

Bournemouth have rotten data underneath the likes of Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor, however Pawson’s cost sheet is grim studying despite the fact that he has taken cost of extra Cherries video games than anybody else.

Brentford

David Coote

With Brentford solely of their fourth Premier League season, their historical past with Premier League referees could be very a lot in its infancy. Nevertheless, David Coote has definitely been busy within the six video games he is had involving the Bees.

Thomas Frank’s facet have won zero with Coote in charge, whereas the Nottinghamshire official misplaced management throughout Brentford’s ill-tempered 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa final season, the place he despatched off Ben Mee and didn’t maintain a deal with on antics from Emiliano Martinez and Neal Maupay.

It is not a lot to go on, however Coote’s subsequent go to to west London will not be the best omen.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Chris Kavanagh

Brighton typically carry out poorly when Chris Kavanagh is on the identical pitch as them. Not solely do they solely have a 14% win rate with him, however this specific referee has additionally awarded opponents 5 spot kicks in simply 14 video games.

He could have given them a serving to hand in current weeks together with his sending-off of Declan Rice against Arsenal, however that was a sport that additional dented their success price, with just one win coming since their inaugural Premier League marketing campaign (towards Leeds United in Might 2021).

Craig Pawson and Anthony Taylor have additionally awarded Seagulls opponents a number of penalties between them, whereas Brighton’s poor win price with Kavanagh is just marginally worse than their report with Michael Oliver (17%).

Chelsea

Anthony Taylor

It might be honest to say that Anthony Taylor has lengthy been the bane of Chelsea followers. He was within the center for 2 of their FA Cup remaining defeats (with contentious calls and pink playing cards in each), whereas he lately handed the Blues eight yellows on a weird record-breaking night time for cautions at Bournemouth.

And the stats have him because the outright outlier relating to their report in comparison with different refs. Taylor has awarded opponents EIGHT penalties within the Premier League – no different present referee has given greater than two towards Chelsea.

Away from Taylor, one other eye-catching stat was their dire report underneath Jarred Gillett. They’ve received simply as soon as in six matches, whereas their one defeat got here amid a red card for Malo Gusto against Aston Villa final season.

Crystal Palace

Michael Oliver

We expect Crystal Palace followers would have each purpose to dread the presence of Michael Oliver. Oliver is an skilled ref, so it is no shock he has dealt with extra Eagles video games than different officers.

That stated, he has given Palace’s opponents seven penalties, having given fewer to a lot of the golf equipment he has taken cost of extra typically. Solely Watford and Arsenal can declare to have a worse penalties-per-game ratio.

Andy Madley has a equally blotted copybook in Palace matches, have handed out three reds of their final three matches – together with an extremely harsh second yellow for Jordan Ayew final season towards Liverpool when the Eagles had led.

Everton

Craig Pawson

With Everton’s kind largely unimpressive in recent times, it’s little shock that the overwhelming majority of referees seem to have it in for them.

Nevertheless, the worst mixture of the statistics we’re all for has to go to Craig Pawson. Whereas they’re winless in 9 matches underneath John Brooks, their next-worst report is with Pawson, who has overseen simply 5 Everton wins in 26 games – a stunning 19% win price.

Pawson has additionally handed out 5 reds throughout that point, together with in final season’s Merseyside derby defeat at Anfield in a sport the place he failed to send off Ibrahima Konate for what would have been a deserved second reserving.

Fulham

Graham Scott

Like Everton, Fulham have additionally been unfortunate underneath Craig Pawson – they’ve by no means received in eight video games alongside him.

However maybe a worse destiny than having Pawson assigned to a Fulham match can be Graham Scott taking cost. Whereas the Whites have solely had seven matches underneath him, a bigger chunk of those have come since their most up-to-date promotion.

Though Fulham lastly received underneath Scott throughout this time, their report stays poor, whereas there’s typically drama. In truth, four of their last five matches with Scott have featured a penalty, a pink card, or each – and the percentages aren’t normally within the west Londoners’ favour.

Ipswich City

David Coote

Regardless of Ipswich lastly returning to the highest flight this summer season, they haven’t been capable of escape the wrath of would-be Premier League referees throughout their time within the Championship and League One.

Unsurprisingly, there is not an enormous quantity of knowledge to go by, however the Tractor Boys could need to be cautious of David Coote, with whom they’ve been on the profitable facet just twice in 15 Championship games.

Granted, all bar a type of matches have been within the 2017/18 season or earlier, however the development did proceed after they have been held to a draw by West Brom of their profitable promotion marketing campaign final yr.

Leicester Metropolis

Craig Pawson

One potential silver lining of Leicester City’s relegation in 2022/23 could have been the absence of Craig Pawson from Championship soccer.

Their time within the Premier League up till their relegation actually was a rollercoaster – and that is additionally why their report underneath the South Yorkshire ref stands out.

They’re on a run of dropping each of their last six clashes involving Pawson – sarcastically after profitable the earlier six. Possibly it is a signal that issues are because of flip round, however that is as rotten a report as you may get.

Liverpool

Andy Madley

Everyone knows that Jurgen Klopp had it in for Paul Tierney (see beneath), and that is comprehensible – he is been the centre of a number of controversies involving Liverpool through the years.

However the Reds’ record with Tierney is mostly constructive; they’ve received their final six overseen by him, whereas the final pink card he gave to a Liverpool participant – Darwin Nunez against Crystal Palace in August 2022 – was wholly justified.

So we felt a extra acceptable ‘bogey ref’ can be Andy Madley. He is solely taken cost of ten Liverpool matches, of which the Reds have received six. Whereas their solely defeat underneath Madley was their 2-0 loss to Everton final time period, this ref has turned up in some agonising games, together with attracts away at newly promoted sides Luton and Fulham.

And even when Liverpool win, he manages to make a scene, having been on the centre of various iffy selections throughout their last-gasp victory against Crystal Palace last season in a match that left each side disgruntled together with his officiating. He is hardly a constructive omen.

Manchester Metropolis

Anthony Taylor

Trying on the numbers, it could be simple to say Michael Oliver is the prime candidate for Manchester City’s least-wanted referee. Nevertheless, regardless of awarding eight penalties against them, he has by no means given a Citizen a pink card, which is exceptional given his longevity within the sport.

The one referee who can actually rival that’s Anthony Taylor. Though he is one other of the extra skilled officers, nobody has given more reds to City players than him, whereas six penalties have gone towards them underneath his watch.

Metropolis’s win report with Taylor additionally stands at a ‘lowly’ 57% – comfortably the bottom for this juggernaut of a staff. Their current failures underneath him embrace attracts towards Arsenal and Chelsea that might have price them the title final season, in addition to each defeats to Spurs within the 2021/22 marketing campaign.

Manchester United

Jarred Gillett

It might really feel like all the pieces is towards Manchester United proper now, with outcomes and refereeing selections benefiting opponents within the wake of a 3rd sport with out a win and an overturned pink card for Bruno Fernandes on the weekend.

And whereas Chris Kavanagh will not have gained any followers at Outdated Trafford together with his decision-making, the stats counsel Jarred Gillett should be a extra feared referee.

The Australian has solely officiated five Red Devils clashes to date, but United have solely come out on prime on two events, whereas three penalties have been awarded towards them – together with two of their chastening 4-3 defeat to Chelsea final time period.

Newcastle United

Craig Pawson

Trying on the stats, you would be forgiven for considering Craig Pawson had a private vendetta towards the Toon. Whereas that’s more likely to be removed from the reality, the Yorkshireman has handed Newcastle United 5 pink playing cards and issued five penalties against them.

The Magpies are Pawson’s mostly assigned staff, however not by a lot, and a comparatively paltry win price of 34% underneath him solely sours issues additional.

Throughout the energetic Premier League referees, solely Paul Tierney matches Pawson by way of awarding penalties, although he has by no means despatched a Newcastle participant off. Eddie Howe’s males higher be on their finest behaviour each time Pawson’s subsequent on the town.

Nottingham Forest

Robert Jones

With Nottingham Forest’s trendy Premier League historical past slightly restricted, their run-ins with the present crop of refs are extra unfold out (referees weren’t even skilled after they have been final relegated from the highest flight).

Due to this fact, it might be barely disingenuous handy one referee the mantle of being Forest’s important nemesis, however Robert Jones has overseen more drama than most when he takes management of their video games.

Jones was lately on the centre of controversy when he dealt with the Tough Timber’ current draw at Brighton, which noticed Morgan Gibbs-White harshly despatched off in an ill-tempered conflict.

Simon Hooper additionally deserves an honourable point out, as he has yet to oversee a Forest victory in any of the Reds’ seven makes an attempt.

Southampton

Graham Scott

Southampton’s previous few Premier League campaigns have been dominated by relegation battles, so a number of their statistics make for grim studying.

Whereas the likes of Anthony Taylor and Simon Hooper are on no account the Saints’ fortunate allure, Graham Scott arguably edges it by having the worst report of the lot.

In 15 matches under Scott since 2016/17, Southampton have received simply twice, and never tasted victory alongside Scott for almost six years – a run of 9 winless video games (1D 8L).

Tottenham Hotspur

Paul Tierney

Paul Tierney has been a Premier League referee since 2014, however his Tottenham Hotspur report is littered with some agonising Spurs matches.

They embrace every of the Lilywhites’ final two journeys to Anfield, which each resulted in ugly defeats. There’s additionally been loads of London derbies the place Spurs have come unstuck, whereas they beforehand went by a interval of 12 matches with out victory underneath him.

Robert Jones’ Spurs report is not a lot prettier, and he gave Arsenal a contentious penalty on the Emirates Stadium final season – whereas Spurs are winless with him in their last six.

West Ham United

David Coote

On condition that David Coote has solely taken cost of 12 West Ham United matches, it is fairly exceptional he stands out as being a very unhealthy omen for them.

However with one red and four penalties conceded in his video games (to not point out profitable simply 2 of these 12), it is tough to say it is anybody else for the Hammers.

Their 16% win price underneath Coote is comfortably the worst of any referee to take cost of a minimum of 5 West Ham matches – Andy Madley is subsequent on a relatively respectable 29%.

Wolves

Andy Madley

Solely three golf equipment have had Andy Madley in cost within the Premier League extra typically than Wolves, and at this level, the Outdated Gold shall be begging the PGMOL and Madley to go away them alone.

Three of Wolves’ last five matches involving Madley have seen both a pink or penalty kick, whereas their final assembly – a 4-1 win over Brentford in December – stays an outlier by way of outcomes underneath this official (only a second win in 11 video games).

Anthony Taylor will understandably be contemporary within the reminiscence of followers given his recent match-defining (and correct) penalty call towards Liverpool, and nobody has given Wolves extra reds or penalties than him, so he is one other for Gary O’Neil’s facet to be cautious of.