Revealed: Manchester City are the most harshly treated club in the Premier League by referees | OneFootball

New research has revealed that Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are the side most harshly treated by Premier League match officials so far this season.

After the first eight gameweeks of the 2024/25 Premier League, research from talkSPORT BET has now revealed that Manchester City have been the team treated most harshly by top-flight referees so far.

Premier League referees are revealed to have brandished a yellow card for every 2.83 fouls Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side have committed, which is the lowest threshold in the entire league.

Chelsea and Manchester United are the other two “big six” sides who have been heavily penalised, with the Blues picking up more yellow cards than any other side (30), despite committing just 88 fouls.

Tottenham sit slightly above the league average, with 4.95 fouls per yellow card. However, their North London rivals, Arsenal, along with Liverpool, are notably treated more leniently. Liverpool have received 18 yellow cards from 95 fouls, while Arsenal’s 18 yellows from 97 fouls make them the most favourably treated among the “big six.”

Outside the “big six”, Everton have benefited from the most lenient officiating, receiving only 13 yellow cards for 88 fouls. In contrast, Brentford have been hit hardest, with 14 yellows issued from just 51 fouls.

Ryon Scott-Douglas, spokesperson for talkSPORT BET, said, “With the Premier League now well under way, we can reveal that Manchester City have faced the harshest treatment from referees so far, whilst Liverpool and Arsenal have enjoyed the most leniency.

“City’s 18 yellow cards from just 51 fouls means they are punished by refs more severely than any other team. In contrast, referees have been far more lenient with Arsenal, who average over five fouls per yellow card, compared to City’s 2.83.

“Liverpool also average over five fouls per yellow, as do Bournemouth, West Ham, Aston Villa and Everton.”

Scott-Douglas continued, “City, Manchester United, and Chelsea make up the three teams treated most severely by referees, not just in the ‘big six’, but in the Premier League as a whole. Chelsea join City at under three fouls per yellow, whilst United sit third at 3.42 ahead of Brentford.

“A lot has been made of referees’ treatment of Arsenal this season, but it seems the officials are taking their side this season, whilst their title rivals see themselves punished more than any other team in the league.”