The Athletic Review Claims Manchester City Were Denied Key Decisions in Title Race
A comprehensive review of major officiating incidents from the 2025/26 Premier League season has concluded that Manchester City should have entered the final day of the campaign at the top of the table, holding a two-point advantage over Arsenal.
According to a report by The Athletic, an extensive assessment of significant refereeing decisions—including penalties, red cards, and attacking fouls in the build-up to goals—suggests that several crucial calls went against City during the season.
The findings have reignited debate over the impact of officiating on one of the closest title races in recent Premier League history.
Among the most notable incidents highlighted in the report was the Manchester derby, where Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot was deemed fortunate to remain on the pitch after a challenge just 10 minutes into the match. The review concluded that Dalot should have received a red card, a decision that could have significantly altered the course of the game. City ultimately suffered a 2-0 defeat.
Another key moment came in City’s away clash against Newcastle United. The report states that Pep Guardiola’s side should have been awarded a penalty during the encounter, a decision that was not given by match officials. City went on to lose the match 2-1, dropping valuable points in the title race.
The review’s conclusions suggest that correcting these two decisions alone could have had a major impact on the final standings. With every point proving crucial in the battle for the championship, the report argues that City were disadvantaged by errors at pivotal moments of the season.
While retrospective analysis cannot change the outcome of matches, the findings are likely to fuel ongoing discussions about refereeing standards, VAR consistency, and the influence of key decisions on the Premier League title race.
Neither the Premier League nor the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has publicly commented on the report’s findings.
As scrutiny of officiating continues to grow, the review serves as another reminder of how marginal decisions can shape the destiny of clubs competing at the highest level.
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