Use of video technology would mean Man City go top of the table by winning their game in hand, rather than still trailing in the title race.
Manchester City fans have been outraged all season that bad refereeing decisions have cost them points all season – and here is the proof they are absolutely right!
And the use of video technology on a trial basis cannot come soon enough for the Blues, who would be just two points off top spot – with a game in hand – if the officials had been getting it right.
The research, done by sports writer Harry Pratt on his Hypothetical Premier League (HPL) website , analyses what the table would look like if referees had got the big calls right.
City fans have been furious this season as a series of controversial moments have gone against them – but so have the fans of every other football team.
But Pratt's analysis of refereeing decisions has found that City would be three points better off if video technology had been available.
And it reinforces the belief that Leicester have been getting a sympathetic ride by match officials, as they would be SIX points worse off if refs had been on the ball.
Arsenal would be top, with a point more, while Spurs would have four less, but the Blues would be poised to overtake both of them, and Leicester, by winning their game in hand.
Pratt only looks at major decisions that had a bearing on results, checking the legitimacy of goals and penalties, and red cards which had a bearing on a result – and he takes into account the opinions of expert pundits.
Those are the kind of decision which the International Football Association Board has decided will come under scrutiny when they trial the use of video referees.
Of course, there are other decisions which could have had a bearing on the outcome of match, such as the ref's failure to spot James Milner's handball in last week's game at Anfield, when the score was 2-0.
The two big decisions which are flagged up by the HPL are Mark Clattenburg's dreadful award of a penalty to Tottenham, and the non-award of a spot kick to Raheem Sterling against Everton.
Pundits Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Niall Quinn all lambasted Clattenburg for “guessing” that Raheem Sterling had handled, when the cross hit his back and rebounded onto the top of his arm.
Of course, that was a double whammy for the Blues, as it meant they dropped a point and title rivals Spurs gained two.
Sterling was also at the centre of the controversy in the goalless draw at home to Everton, when he skated past John Stones and was scythed down by the tired defender in the last minute.
Ref Roger East waved away the appeals, but it was a stonewall penalty.
Former ref Dermot Gallagher reviewed the decision for Sky Sports and said: “It's a foul, he just hasn't identified that Stones has gone in, he's not got the ball, he's taken his legs.”
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