Big teams always on the refs’ side?

[freedomgo]

Noticed how the big teams always seem to get the soft whistles or no-calls when it matters? Like Lakers for instance in the NBA (where Lebron is playing) or, even in local leagues. Sometimes it looks too obvious, like the refs just lean their way cause the league can’t afford for the stars to be out early.

In betting it shows up too, lines always tilt toward the popular teams, everybody throws money on them, then the calls on the floor somehow match up.

Hard to tell if it’s chance or the system really keeping them

Do you think refs really tilt toward the big teams, or are we just whining when things don’t go our way?

[Woodie]

I think refs come from any of the three camps; against the favourites, for the favourites and the neutral one's and honestly it's understandable... If it's football soccer ⚽ imagine a ref making the wrong call against a Big team.. you know what happens, fans troll the ref and in worst case scenarios make all kinds of threats and all that, so sometimes safety must come first for these professionals.

And sometimes the narrative of the ref being on the Big teams side is them choosing peace because peaceful life after football or whatever sport needs to continue.

[alani123]

I don't think it's necessarily favoring big teams, it's just probably a general instruction to refs given by certain leagues. Don't blow the whistle on soft fouls and don't disrupt play too often.

How many times do you think a European ref would stop play based on travel if he was in an NBA game?
NBA players actually have to adapt their play when they come play in international competitions because it's much easier to make mistakes that the ref will actually recognize and disrupt play for.

It's a very common thing in basketball. Some competitions are more geared towards being impressive and for TV. If for instance an NBA game was to be disrupted too often it'd be less impressive and lose the attention of viewers more easily. Basketball already has enough breaks to fit in ads no need for refs to make it worse with adding too many free throws and red cards. At least that's the mindset of certain leagues.

[Justbillywitt]

It's just whining when things don't go our ways. Do you think that those smaller teams will be aware of this and still want to continue in the league when it becomes very obvious that the refs are favouring the big teams? People always complain in every sports when things don't go their way. The refs are there to maintain integrity of the games so I don't believe they favours the so called big teams.

[Cointxz]

I do notice it sometimes but mainly my judgement has bias since I’m always supporting the small team on NBA. It’s easy to notice questionable calls of referees if it’s against your team while those same calls are normal in the eyes of the big team fan.

There’s no perfect call in every game so that questionable call is already part of the games since it happened on both team favor.

Just like what I said, it’s mainly because of our bias judgement.

[Sandra_hakeem]

No matter how we'll try to twist this biased game pattern, it is what it is... I've noticed it, a couple more people have too; we can't all be wrong for consciously having the same observation in these game.

I seen big players in the game being pardoned when they commit offenses that should be ruled as a fouled, or for the least, a yellow card. Maybe those referees are given some kind of code of conduct/ instructions on how exactly to make decisions in the game? Maybe that's exactly why the VAR was introduced. Whatever happens, there's always a tendency that one will disagree, even against the VAR's decision for their personal preferences.

[BitGoba]

Sure! It often looks like refs favor big teams and stars like LeBron because of pressure and the league wanting to protect its stars.
But mostly, it’s a mix of human error, subconscious bias, and how we perceive things. Refs aren’t usually intentionally favoring anyone, but small biases happen.

[Eternad]

Sure! It often looks like refs favor big teams and stars like LeBron because of pressure and the league wanting to protect its stars.
But mostly, it’s a mix of human error, subconscious bias, and how we perceive things. Refs aren’t usually intentionally favoring anyone, but small biases happen.

Actually if we will count call by call of refs all through out the season we will come up to a collective data that it’s just a balance call.

This is always the big issue especially during the last finals of NBA between OKC and Pacers. Both team fans keep whining about the refs when they lose. There’s still a lot of unsatisfactory comments about refs call regardless on who the team won that match.

It’s easy to blame the refs when the lose rather especially if there’s a lot of close calls.

[Marvelockg]

Do you think refs really tilt toward the big teams, or are we just whining when things don’t go our way?

The question then is, what do the refs stand to gain if they favour a big team? Will they get paid and won't it affect the reputation in terms of looking at them as a professional referee?

Of cause, when things goes a certain way against smaller teams, we tend to assume that there's some sort of preference by the officiator in favour of the big teams but the reality is that the majority of times  referee try to remain as professional as possible because any form of bias they show will affect their career.

[Btcdeybodi]

Noticed how the big teams always seem to get the soft whistles or no-calls when it matters? Like Lakers for instance in the NBA (where Lebron is playing) or, even in local leagues. Sometimes it looks too obvious, like the refs just lean their way cause the league can’t afford for the stars to be out early.

Players like Lebron James is a high profile basketballer so the refs are always cautious in any match that involves him because any mistake can cost them their job. I cannot completely say that refs are sentimental when it involves big teams, they are just being careful. Los Angeles Lakers consist of big players and referees makes sure they apply high professionalism when they are officiating such matches.

[Beparanf]

Noticed how the big teams always seem to get the soft whistles or no-calls when it matters? Like Lakers for instance in the NBA (where Lebron is playing) or, even in local leagues. Sometimes it looks too obvious, like the refs just lean their way cause the league can’t afford for the stars to be out early.

Players like Lebron James is a high profile basketballer so the refs are always cautious in any match that involves him because any mistake can cost them their job. I cannot completely say that refs are sentimental when it involves big teams, they are just being careful. Los Angeles Lakers consist of big players and referees makes sure they apply high professionalism when they are officiating such matches.

This is not true. Being a high profile player doesn’t mean they have special privileges on the refs. Player like Lebron just know how to act in able to get a call from the ref since he do this a lot of times.

Referees are already cautious when officiating Lebron match because he  is well known flopper.

Lebron complains and does a lot of acting every match. It’s the other way around on who is doing more effort to sell a foul.

[₿itcoin]

I think that fan crowds, social pressure, and the socio-economic and reputational success of teams can all influence referees’ decisions. Look at this Journal referees have been shown to be more cautious in giving yellow cards to away teams when the home team is on the field and there are more spectators.

I also agree with you successful teams are awarded more penalties, and referees often refrain from giving penalties that should have been awarded against them. you know when the club popularity or fan base is high, there is more bias in decisions, despite differences in referee age and experience.

And during the Covid-19 period, when there were no spectators in the stadium, home advantage was much lower, which proves that spectators and social pressure can influence referees.

[Royal Cap]

Well, I think there is truth in both angles. Refs are human and it can be a factor to use split second decision depending on the pressure of a full stadium or reputation of some superstar. Meanwhile, fans will pay attention to those missed calls when their team is losing more than to the ones that will be in their favour.

There is also no doubt that betting lines are definitely more inclined on massive teams since the money of the people is placed in them, yet the league gains advantages when the stars remain in the playoffs. Therefore it is not unreasonable to believe that refs subconsciously favour them even though it is not fixed.

[Mr. Magkaisa]

There are some calls from the ref the is sfor big names. They call it Superstar call. You can see some calls from big stars are soft like with Steph.
But i can tell that the call from the REF in the NBA now is really soft, not just for other players but in general.

REF can be fired if they will call un even and side for the big team. Im prety sure not just love the job, but they really need it.

[yhiaali3]

This may actually happen because people always lean toward the stronger side, either out of fear or sympathy.

I don't rule out the possibility that referees overlook many minor errors by big teams for several reasons, including fear of angry crowd reaction, a desire to keep the game entertained so it doesn't get interrupted too often by errors, or perhaps bribery from some major bookmakers.

[Majestic-milf]

 I also feel that way too. There are games I've seen that most times lean towards the big teams if you keenly observe. It's not easy to be a ref in a game because how the game turns out relies on them and every wrong call being made would be punished if discovered.
 I remember when Roma played against Sevilla in the Europa league finals when Mourinho was coach, the ref made a very bad call that cost Roma the title because I think that Sevilla were the major favorites to win that game.

[Hatchy]

Do you think refs really tilt toward the big teams, or are we just whining when things don’t go our way?

Some time ago, I came across a document of how many refs in sports and some other games where uncovered about their dirty doings behind the screen. Yes they all try to stay fair during games, but most of them might have favourites or had even been brided before each games. Yes this is very much against the regulations guiding and individual as a ref, but it's what it is.
There are just somethings we might not be able to fight against no matter how obvious it is. These refs have favourites and during games you see how they just ignore even many foul and violents the game. We just have to let go of somethings and enjoy our games. That way we don't have to over think too much..

[lionheart78]

Do you think refs really tilt toward the big teams, or are we just whining when things don’t go our way?

It can be both .  It made sense when you said that sometimes the ref let go of a should-be foul incident just to not make the big stars of the game to be out of the game early.  But sometimes ref make an adjustment depending on which team is competing, especially when both teams are playing too physical.  Ref let go of slight  touches and bumps since it became normal in a too physical fight.

We can't also remove the possibility of favoritism since ref are also human who can have favorite players.  It is just an assumption that maybe the ref let go of a should be foul action by their favorite player and vice versa.

[Alphakilo]

I think referees can get sanctioned and even lose their jobs if they are caught favouring one player or team over the other because while this may have been a trivial issue in the past, recently, with the installations of VR and cameras and even the introduction of A.I for after match analysis, it may  be down to a referees career or fines, if found wanting because there would be questions and queries and sanctions all waiting to happen.

Still, I have witnessed more scenarios than one that have shown the referee being just a human by favoring a team or star player above the rest and nothing is said about it because that's just like the referee is doing what every single fan of that team or player wants and as such it is ignored or blamed on something else.

[peter0425]

Do you think refs really tilt toward the big teams, or are we just whining when things don’t go our way?

I believe it can be a bit of both. The referees may unconsciously be a little bit biased because they know how big of a fanbase that one team has so they are a little softer on them. Or sometimes it’s the other way round where they try to not seem biased that they over correct their bias and seem so against the team lol.