Carlos Corberan calls for understanding of refereeing mistakes after controversial call in West Brom v Leeds

West Brom boss Carlos Corberan has called for fans and players to understand that refereeing mistakes happen in the absence of VAR in the Championship and claimed these decisions balance themselves out over time.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke claimed the referee had made a “crucial” mistake [Yorkshire Evening Post, 18 August] by allowing West Brom’s goal to stand, after replays showed Brandon Thomas-Asante had handled the ball.

There were also questions over a potential penalty for the home side, but Cedric Kipre looked to have just got a toe on the ball, sending it out for a corner.

Speaking to the Express and Star following West Brom’s 1-1 draw at Elland Road, Corberan stated: “I didn’t watch (back) any single action, hopefully, the goal we scored was a fair goal, I always wish the things that happen in the pitch are fair things.

“I know how challenging it is for the referees that work in the game we play. Against Blackburn, we received two massive penalties that the referees couldn’t watch and we lost that game.

“In football at the end some things balance (themselves out) but I always like to never use any type of advantage. If the goal is no (goal), I don’t like to use it, but I know how difficult it is for the referee.

“That’s why the VAR works a lot to get the best and fair decision. In the Championship we don’t have the system and we need to understand the referee in some points are going to have some mistakes, they are going to happen.”

Corberan is right, mistakes are made

Refereeing mistakes have always been a part of football without VAR intervention – and even then there seems to be a big talking point after controversial decisions are made almost every week.

It is difficult to be objective when your team has suffered at the hands of a poor decision, but like the boss says, these things tend to balance themselves out over the course of a season. Fans will always remember the bad decisions against them and brush over the ones that go in their favour.

Leeds will likely feel hard done by after two poor decisions went against them at Elland Road, while Baggies fans won’t care at all as they played a huge part in earning a point for the club in a difficult away fixture.

The contrast in attitudes between the two bosses Corberan and Farke sums up the attitudes of the fans on either side, as suffering from a poor decision will always lead to outrage, and when you benefit it’s always the old “I didn’t see it” line which was a favourite of legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.