| Ref for Saturday 17:44 - Apr 12 with 8203 views | GeoffSentence |
is James Bell.
He has taken charge of three League One games this season, and sent two people off.
One of those was Brendan Galloway of Plymouth in their away game to Portsmouth.
The other was Mo Sangare of Accrington in their home game vs Plymouth.
Lets hope he is in his anti-plymouth rather than pro-plymouth phase this week. |  |
| |  |
| Ref for Saturday on 09:55 - Apr 13 with 1411 views | ArchiRob |
| Ref for Saturday on 09:46 - Apr 13 by tractorboy1978 |
To a point, yes. But it's nuts to have a self confessed Wednesday fan refereeing a rivals game in this promotion race. For his own sake as much as anything else. One dubious decision on Saturday and the EFL have a problem. I am sure as professional as any of us maybe, there is an element of bias, whether conscious or unconscious when it comes to tight decisions. |
But they don't do they? the Oxford Muppet is still out there.
We can get a red for a dubious tackle and that fecks up other games too
they might do something to him but the game will still stand as did the Oxford debacle.
Can't see how he can ref as it's clear conflict of interest.
If he is stupid enough to come out with a comment like that God knows what other stupid things he will do |  |
| |
| Ref for Saturday on 09:56 - Apr 13 with 1403 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Ref for Saturday on 09:52 - Apr 13 by clive_baker |
Feels entirely avoidable, which is the most nuts thing about it. He's officiated 3 games at this level all season and then he pops up to ref us on Saturday, doesn't really make any sense I agree. There won't be a lot we can do about it though. |
It'll get changed, I am pretty sure of it. There is no need for the EFL to put him, us or themselves in that position. |  | | |
| Ref for Saturday on 09:59 - Apr 13 with 1376 views | J2BLUE |
How can a Sheff Wed fan ref our game? That is absolute madness. I hope the club are pushing hard to have him removed.
For people who say he will be professional, would you trust yourself to ref a Wednesday/Plymouth game? Even if you tried to call it 50/50 you probably wouldn't be able to. |  |
| |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:00 - Apr 13 with 1355 views | PhilTWTD |
| Ref for Saturday on 09:46 - Apr 13 by tractorboy1978 |
To a point, yes. But it's nuts to have a self confessed Wednesday fan refereeing a rivals game in this promotion race. For his own sake as much as anything else. One dubious decision on Saturday and the EFL have a problem. I am sure as professional as any of us maybe, there is an element of bias, whether conscious or unconscious when it comes to tight decisions. |
Indeed, puts him in a difficult position. They'll change it I'm sure now the comments have emerged.
On a similar note, I once saw that Fred Graham was down to referee our game at home to West Ham and he's from Stanford-le-Hope in prime Hammers territory. We won 5-1 so not really any controversy there. |  | | |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:01 - Apr 13 with 1348 views | clive_baker |
| Ref for Saturday on 09:56 - Apr 13 by tractorboy1978 |
It'll get changed, I am pretty sure of it. There is no need for the EFL to put him, us or themselves in that position. |
You would hope so but I won't hold my breath on the EFL admitting any oversight and backtracking at the 11th hour. |  |
| |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:04 - Apr 13 with 1324 views | hype313 |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:00 - Apr 13 by PhilTWTD |
Indeed, puts him in a difficult position. They'll change it I'm sure now the comments have emerged.
On a similar note, I once saw that Fred Graham was down to referee our game at home to West Ham and he's from Stanford-le-Hope in prime Hammers territory. We won 5-1 so not really any controversy there. |
On a related note, have there been any refs that openly support Ipswich? |  |
| |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:08 - Apr 13 with 1287 views | clive_baker |
| Ref for Saturday on 09:49 - Apr 13 by Zx1988 |
That's precisely my concern. Even if he seeks to be as professional as possible, there's always the potential for an unconscious bias when it comes to 50:50 decisions. |
I guess there's also the chance of bias correction when you know your decisions are being scrutinised within this context.
Either way it's an entirely avoidable situation and a bit of a nuts decision. You just know the EFL are going to replace him and then we'll get an absolute stinker of a decision against us now. | |
| |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:09 - Apr 13 with 1282 views | GeoffSentence |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:00 - Apr 13 by PhilTWTD |
Indeed, puts him in a difficult position. They'll change it I'm sure now the comments have emerged.
On a similar note, I once saw that Fred Graham was down to referee our game at home to West Ham and he's from Stanford-le-Hope in prime Hammers territory. We won 5-1 so not really any controversy there. |
I wonder if there are any changes made at the request of the ref.
If I was in this position, say as a Town fan refereeing a crucial game involving Plymouth or Sheffield Wednesday I think I'd want out.
It is a difficult position, and though I ma sure that all refs would be consciously professional in these circumstances there is always that unconscious aspect that affect the game, it could even be the other way round, for instance trying that little bit too hard to make decisions that could not be interpreted as helping the team I support. | |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| Ref for Saturday on 10:09 - Apr 13 with 1279 views | hoppy |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:00 - Apr 13 by PhilTWTD |
Indeed, puts him in a difficult position. They'll change it I'm sure now the comments have emerged.
On a similar note, I once saw that Fred Graham was down to referee our game at home to West Ham and he's from Stanford-le-Hope in prime Hammers territory. We won 5-1 so not really any controversy there. |
Was Fred Graham a self-professed Hammer tho? |  |
| |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:12 - Apr 13 with 1246 views | portmanking |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:09 - Apr 13 by hoppy |
Was Fred Graham a self-professed Hammer tho? |
Quite. The fact this ref has, in essence, gone public with his Wednesday allegiances makes this a very difficult situation. Hopefully common sense prevails, especially with so much at stake. | | | |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:13 - Apr 13 with 1230 views | HarleydavidsonBlue |
| Ref for Saturday on 09:44 - Apr 13 by Zx1988 |
Done and done.
And I mean done. |
Done.
Come on you blues m- BLUE ARMY, BLUE ARMY |  | | |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:16 - Apr 13 with 1201 views | clive_baker |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:04 - Apr 13 by hype313 |
On a related note, have there been any refs that openly support Ipswich? |
I've always thought reffing must be such a hard thing to maintain the integrity of. Aside from the obvious things like match fixing and strong allegiances to clubs, just the breadth of people's networks means there's always likely to be some links somewhere. Ultimately there's steps that can be taken to avoid partiality but there has to be a level of trust.
I played in a playoff game once in Ryman Premier and the ref was a friend of mine from Uni from about 8 years prior who I was still in touch with. Didn't do us any favours that night though. He later reffed Ipswich U21's, I said to go easy on them. We won 4 or 5-0 and he gave us a penalty. I'm sure it was entirely justified though, he had no allegiance to Ipswich. | |
| |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:20 - Apr 13 with 1181 views | ElderGrizzly |
| Ref for Saturday on 09:41 - Apr 13 by clive_baker |
He could've adversely influenced Plymouth's a few weeks back too away at Accrington, but he oversaw a 2-0 away win and sent off an Accrington player. It was a result that took Plymouth above Sheffield Wednesday.
You have to trust that he's professional enough to do his job properly. |
Agree. And now he'll have even more scrutiny on every decision.
Probably exactly the ref we want now to be honest! |  | | |
| I’d keep him for Saturday…. on 10:22 - Apr 13 with 1167 views | Bloots |
….there’s absolutely no chance he’ll give Charlton anything now it’s been highlighted.
More than his job’s worth. |  |
| "Great to see you back on here mate, I was considering deactivating my account if you hadn’t returned" - TWTD User (Aug 2025) |
| |
| I’d keep him for Saturday…. on 10:29 - Apr 13 with 1092 views | textbackup |
| I’d keep him for Saturday…. on 10:22 - Apr 13 by Bloots |
….there’s absolutely no chance he’ll give Charlton anything now it’s been highlighted.
More than his job’s worth. |
This is just playing with my head now |  |
| |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:35 - Apr 13 with 1027 views | clive_baker |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:20 - Apr 13 by ElderGrizzly |
Agree. And now he'll have even more scrutiny on every decision.
Probably exactly the ref we want now to be honest! |
Yeah I would say the 'overcompensation' or correction bias is probably more likely now this has emerged. Especially as the outcome would be relatively high profile and no doubt the decisions poured over.
It's sods law he's replaced by some joker who has a stinker. | |
| |
| Whatever happens…. on 10:37 - Apr 13 with 1021 views | Bloots |
| I’d keep him for Saturday…. on 10:29 - Apr 13 by textbackup |
This is just playing with my head now |
….at least we’ll have an excuse if we don’t win.
Too foggy, ref changed at short notice, grass too long, too windy, ref supports Wednesday, lino was ginger, etc, etc. | |
| "Great to see you back on here mate, I was considering deactivating my account if you hadn’t returned" - TWTD User (Aug 2025) |
| |
| I’d keep him for Saturday…. on 10:37 - Apr 13 with 1019 views | portmanking |
| I’d keep him for Saturday…. on 10:29 - Apr 13 by textbackup |
This is just playing with my head now |
I can see the merit in it, re. correction bias.... but the ref should NOT be the focal point of Saturday's game. Stick a total neutral in there and let us focus on our team wiping the floor with the Addicks instead. | | | |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:42 - Apr 13 with 982 views | PhilTWTD |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:04 - Apr 13 by hype313 |
On a related note, have there been any refs that openly support Ipswich? |
I assume Mick Thorpe is a Town fan, although I've never actually asked him. Is an assessor these days. | | | |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:43 - Apr 13 with 976 views | PhilTWTD |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:09 - Apr 13 by hoppy |
Was Fred Graham a self-professed Hammer tho? |
No, but could still look a little suss. | | | |
| I’d keep him for Saturday…. on 10:48 - Apr 13 with 925 views | J2BLUE |
| I’d keep him for Saturday…. on 10:22 - Apr 13 by Bloots |
….there’s absolutely no chance he’ll give Charlton anything now it’s been highlighted.
More than his job’s worth. |
Not sure about that. If he was bright enough to think like that he wouldn't have mouthed off at Plymouth.
We can beat Charlton in a fair fight. Why take the risk? | |
| |
| Ref for Saturday on 11:00 - Apr 13 with 863 views | hype313 |
| Ref for Saturday on 10:42 - Apr 13 by PhilTWTD |
I assume Mick Thorpe is a Town fan, although I've never actually asked him. Is an assessor these days. |
Could be forgiven thinking Barry Knight was.... | |
| |
| Ref for Saturday on 11:04 - Apr 13 with 837 views | clive_baker |
| Ref for Saturday on 11:00 - Apr 13 by hype313 |
Could be forgiven thinking Barry Knight was.... |
What a guy.
Got most of those decisions spot on, but good on him for having the b0llocks to give them. | |
| |
| Ref for Saturday on 11:08 - Apr 13 with 821 views | hype313 |
| Ref for Saturday on 11:04 - Apr 13 by clive_baker |
What a guy.
Got most of those decisions spot on, but good on him for having the b0llocks to give them. |
Every one was bang on. How Mike Whitlow complained was anyone's guess! | |
| |
| Ref for Saturday on 11:12 - Apr 13 with 808 views | xrayspecs |
| Ref for Saturday on 11:08 - Apr 13 by hype313 |
Every one was bang on. How Mike Whitlow complained was anyone's guess! |
The Whitlow decision was the one I was not sure about. And he should have sent Warhurst (?) off for man handling a Town player to the ground for the final penalty.
The rest were the correct decisions. | | | |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
