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#Post#: 99740--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Kirk - Everton v Wolves
DIR By: TA_Ref
Date: January 7, 2026, 5:06 pm
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--- Quote from: Ryanellis link ---
>
>
> To add, some of the stuff I’ve already seen on X (twitter)
about Tom is disgusting. People calling him all sorts of names.
(Even found Tom’s work)
>
>
--- End Quote ---
100% - it is quite frankly disgusting.
I’ve seen phrases like ‘ooh he’s egos been hurt’ and ‘what a
tw*t’ and then some other words that if I typed I may be warned
by the moderators on here.
How many times do we have to say it? Dissent by word and/or
action is a cautionable offence and it does not matter if a
player is already on a caution, the appropriate sanction should
be applied.
Sarcastically applauding a referee after making a decision is
clearly an act of dissent and therefore a yellow card. That’s
probably one of the most simple rules a fan could understand.
But when it actually happens it’s all ‘the referee wants it to
be all about him’ and ‘he’s in the spotlight with his massive
ego’
Not that Tom Kirk will probably see all the vile abuse that was
directed at him tonight but if he did, I wish I could just give
him a message of support for actually doing his job to the best
of his ability.
IF (and it’s a big if) the PGMO don’t back him for the second
caution, then I will have serious issues. I will have big big
problems with how our referees are told to officiate.
#Post#: 99743--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Kirk - Everton v Wolves
DIR By: Jtd508110
Date: January 7, 2026, 7:26 pm
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I really hope that Kirk is supported by PGMOL and his fellow
referees. Everton fans are foaming at the mouth this evening. I
was disgusted to see the abuse directed at him and the officials
as they walked down the tunnel by Everton fans. The stewards and
Police should have dealt with that situation more effectively in
my opinion.
When will enough be enough and the match officials down tools
(well whistles) in an attempt for the authorities and clubs to
understand that this is just not acceptable.
#Post#: 99746--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Kirk - Everton v Wolves
DIR By: olliebcafc
Date: January 8, 2026, 1:37 am
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I feel a bit bad for him that he had that situation, not that he
got it wrong but whether he’ll be backed or not. If he hadn’t
sent Grealish off there’d have been an equal amount of people on
social media saying “why’s he ignored that he’s looking right at
it” He can’t win.
On the other hand he might have already set his stall for the
future and players will behave when he’s in charge. Hopefully he
gets plenty more games and this is the case
#Post#: 99747--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Kirk - Everton v Wolves
DIR By: El Referee
Date: January 8, 2026, 2:37 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: rustyref link ---
>
> Hope I'm wrong, but I don't think he will be backed for the
Grealish second caution, it doesn't fit with the manage the game
mantra that is now drummed into all referees from L4 upwards.
The proof will be how quickly we see him again in the EPL.
>
--- End Quote ---
Completely agree. Sad, but it’s true.
Alongside Doughty, I think Kirky was the best ref I ever went
out with. Only downside was he lived opposite a KFC. So was
always a bit too tempting when I dropped him home 😬
#Post#: 99749--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Kirk - Everton v Wolves
DIR By: ajb95
Date: January 8, 2026, 3:13 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Kirk was excellent and glad he dealt with grealish who has
always been an entitled petulant child. I’ve watched the first
red back about 15 times now I’m still not sure. It’s not
deliberate like the one on cucurella a few yrs back. I think
Keane misjumps but pulls his hair for leverage. Not sure it was
particularly violent or serious. For me not a clear and obvious
mistake
#Post#: 99752--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Kirk - Everton v Wolves
DIR By: Ivanhoe
Date: January 8, 2026, 4:26 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I was at this game. My only criticism would be that he let a lot
of niggly stuff go on early in the game which seemed to upset
both teams , he's not on his own with this though, I think we've
gone too far, for instance, with the lack of protection for
goalkeepers trying to come or jump for the ball.
This lead to the game becoming more niggly, although lack of
quality contributed to that.
Overall though, a game he should look at as an education and he
came out of it well, the second yellow for Grealish being a very
brave but totally correct decision.
#Post#: 99754--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Kirk - Everton v Wolves
DIR By: UmpireIan49
Date: January 8, 2026, 4:40 am
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Haven’t seen the game so can’t comment fully, but having watched
Grealish get away with backchat to referees before, it’s good to
hear of a referee taking positive action.
All this rubbish we hear of managing the game and keeping all 22
players on the park, well it’s about time the laws are applied
more rigidly, especially pertaining to dissent/abusive language.
Another thing that bothers me is when a player gets sent off for
dissent or abusive language, it’s the official that gets accused
of being over sensitive. I think back to Jarred Gillett sending
off Dan Neil of Sunderland a few years ago. Some of the vitriol
on here directed at Gillett was frankly laughable when it was
the player at fault.
The PGMOL’s faith in Tom Kirk seems to be fully justified and it
remains to be seen whether he will be backed over the sending
off of Grealish. Rugby refs don’t put up with dissent so why
should football refs?
And good to read of some positive reports on an up
and coming official.
#Post#: 99755--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Kirk - Everton v Wolves
DIR By: Ref25
Date: January 8, 2026, 5:13 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: rustyref link ---
>
> Hope I'm wrong, but I don't think he will be backed for the
Grealish second caution, it doesn't fit with the manage the game
mantra that is now drummed into all referees from L4 upwards.
The proof will be how quickly we see him again in the EPL.
>
--- End Quote ---
I don’t agree with this. PGMO and The FA have been very clear
with officials at these levels that poor participant behaviour
needs to be addressed and the image of the game protected. That
doesn’t mean every single act of dissent, particularly low level
dissent, requires a caution. There is still an element of
‘managing the game’ being asked for, but it is nowhere near as
pushed upon officials as it has been in years gone by.
Other posts have referenced incidents where cautions have not
been issued for what is being seen as open dissent / persistent
protest. I don’t think the lack of a caution in those situations
is because of a general instruction not to issue them. Sometimes
referees can’t see the wood for the trees with players having a
go at them in close proximity. How things appear from a distance
and how it feels when directly involved can be different.
I am highly confident that PGMO would not have been happy had
Tom Kirk ignored / not dealt with such a blatant visible act of
dissent. His decision will be backed by PGMO and the game as a
whole. It was only a few weeks ago that Darren England sent off
Lucas Paqueta for two dissent yellows in quick succession. 4
weeks later and he is refereeing Arsenal v Aston Villa - a
massive game at the top of the table.
Not that this is the clincher, but I note that David Moyes said
on MOTD there can be no defence for Grealish at all.
#Post#: 99756--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Kirk - Everton v Wolves
DIR By: Claretman
Date: January 8, 2026, 5:37 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: rustyref link ---
>
> Hope I'm wrong, but I don't think he will be backed for the
Grealish second caution, it doesn't fit with the manage the game
mantra that is now drummed into all referees from L4 upwards.
The proof will be how quickly we see him again in the EPL.
>
--- End Quote ---
And there herein lies the problem the bosses of the pgmol they
bring on the problems themselves by pampering to players and
clubs.
If you dont want referees to be abused then stamp it out dont
manage it.
There will never be respect until dissent is stamped out in a
proper manner.
#Post#: 99757--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Kirk - Everton v Wolves
DIR By: Joecphillips
Date: January 8, 2026, 6:22 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: UmpireIan49 link ---
>
> Haven’t seen the game so can’t comment fully, but having
watched Grealish get away with backchat to referees before, it’s
good to hear of a referee taking positive action.
>
> All this rubbish we hear of managing the game and keeping all
22 players on the park, well it’s about time the laws are
applied more rigidly, especially pertaining to dissent/abusive
language. Another thing that bothers me is when a player gets
sent off for dissent or abusive language, it’s the official that
gets accused of being over sensitive. I think back to Jarred
Gillett sending off Dan Neil of Sunderland a few years ago. Some
of the vitriol on here directed at Gillett was frankly laughable
when it was the player at fault.
>
> The PGMOL’s faith in Tom Kirk seems to be fully justified and
it remains to be seen whether he will be backed over the sending
off of Grealish. Rugby refs don’t put up with dissent so why
should football refs?
>
> And good to read of some positive reports on an up
> and coming official.
>
--- End Quote ---
The problem is inconsistency, when was the last time either of
the Bruno's were sent off for dissent? A decision can be right
in law but when it's not enforced consistently it's not good for
anyone, you mention Gillet and the Dan Neil incident there was a
similar thing when he referred sunderland v man city and he
ignored a city player complaining in a similar fashion to Neil
no booking and thats apparently a great game
Personal abuse and tracking employers is way to far and
comparing the 2 to what was said over Dan Neil is idiotic
PGMOL needs to actually start enforcing the Laws regarding
dissent consistently and that will help everyone involved
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