In the aftermath of referee James Linington’s controversial decisions during Stoke City’s match at Queens Park Rangers, two notable statistics have come to light. Firstly, Alex Neil disclosed that PGMOL reviews indicated Stoke should have been awarded seven penalties this season, a number expected to rise to eight following an analysis of a second-half foul on Ciaran Clark. This frustration is compounded by Stoke’s experiences with soft decisions against them, including the recent match’s opening goal.
Secondly, Linington has issued red cards to four Stoke players in just nine matches under his charge. The previous instances include Tom Edwards and Bruno Martins Indi in 2019, Harry Souttar in 2021, and now Enda Stevens. The validity of Stevens’s dismissal is contested by Stoke, questioning the fairness of both yellow cards, particularly the second one, which they deemed excessively soft.
Alex Neil expressed disappointment, especially regarding the second yellow card for Stevens, criticizing its softness and suggesting that such decisions make it challenging for teams to finish a game with a full complement of 11 players. Despite the setbacks, Neil believed Stoke was the superior team on the field, even with 10 men, and lamented the goals conceded due to errors in clearing the lines and managing the game.
James Linington’s involvement as the fourth official in a previous controversial incident at Watford, where a goal was awarded due to goalline technology misuse, adds another layer of scrutiny. Additionally, Wouter Burger and Daniel Johnson’s yellow card accumulation means they will miss the upcoming game against Plymouth, with Enda Stevens also suspended after his contentious two yellow cards against QPR.
