A Premier League referee has responded to Arsenal supporters’ recent frustrations regarding Anthony Taylor’s officiating in their recent match against Liverpool, stating that while fans’ concerns over his decisions may have some basis, there is no conspiracy targeting Arsenal.
Despite taking the lead twice at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners ended the match in a 2-2 draw against Arne Slot’s team on Sunday.
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean weighed in on the controversy in an interview with Sky Sports, sharing that Taylor actually performed well, though many Arsenal fans might disagree with this assessment.
Dean noted how VAR has significantly changed the football landscape, leading to more intense debate and scrutiny over referees’ decisions.
“In the era before VAR, I don’t think there were nearly as many major debates or challenges to referees’ calls as there are now,” he remarked.
He further explained that VAR has led to increased expectations for consistency, which is difficult to maintain given that no two situations are ever identical.
Dean illustrated this with a common misconception: commentators and fans frequently argue that if a player is the “last man” and fouls, they should be immediately dismissed.
However, he pointed out that the official rule isn’t as simple as that and has never been; it requires that the player has control of the ball and is actively advancing it towards the opponent’s goal.
Dean went on to acknowledge that football fans often develop theories of bias against their teams, especially after questionable calls.
Arsenal fans, in particular, feel this tension given recent decisions against their players.
He pointed to instances where Arsenal had three players sent off, with two receiving bookings for delaying play by kicking the ball away.
He mentioned Declan Rice as an example and Trossard, the most recent Arsenal player to be sent off for the same reason, both decisions that many fans found frustrating.
Dean highlighted how, from a fan’s perspective, it can appear as though referees are biased—especially when decisions against Arsenal contrast with those for other teams.
For example, this past weekend, Arsenal supporters were angered when Liverpool’s Luis Diaz committed a similar offense without being penalized, fueling their suspicions of unfair treatment.
Dean admitted that while it is essential for referees to consistently apply the rules, it’s unlikely to ever fully satisfy fans, who are passionate about fairness and often interpret decisions through the lens of favoritism.
In his view, some frustrations are simply inherent to football and the subjective nature of officiating.
