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Exeter City's Gary Caldwell left exasperated over refereeing decisions

Exeter City's Gary Caldwell left exasperated over refereeing decisions


Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell admitted that the 3-1 defeat at home to Blackpool was not down to the refereeing team. But he raised serious concerns about how basic decisions seemingly on a weekly basis are called wrong by the officials.

None of the three goals in which the Tangerines scored in the first half had anything to do with the poor performance of referee James Oldham, assistant Jack Clench and Samuel Fudge, and fourth official Scott Chalkley. Indeed, Oldham played a fantastic advantage for the first goal when Jack McMillan tried and failed to stop Odel Offiah, before the defender slipped in CJ Hamilton to score. How the Scot wasn’t booked remains another question.

The problem comes with the old question around consistency. Soon after City were in a similar position, but the whistle was blown when Jake Richards was on the attack. And then twice City were stopped from taking the free-kick.

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By the end, he seemingly had lost control. And the penalty decision. The Grecians were 3-1 down, and time was running out, but Offiah clearly hauls down Tony Yogane as he breaks into the penalty box. Oldham is 10 yards at most away from it, and seemingly the only person at St James Park who didn’t think it was a foul. The replay shows a sheepish look on Offiah’s face as if he knows he has gotten away with it.

Tony Yogane of Exeter City battles for the ball with  Odeluga Offiah of Blackpool during the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Exeter City and Blackpool at St James Park, Devon on 25 January  2025. Photo: Izzy Ninnis/PPAUK
Tony Yogane of Exeter City battles for the ball with Odeluga Offiah of Blackpool during the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Exeter City and Blackpool at St James Park, Devon on 25 January 2025. Photo: Izzy Ninnis/PPAUK

Of course, who knows what would have happened had the penalty been correctly given. Exeter could have missed it. It could have been scored but ultimately just reduce the gap to 3-2. Or with around 10 minutes, including stoppage-time to go, would have the Grecians, attacking the Big Bank, real momentum to try and get something from the game.

It is not the first time Caldwell was left frustrated and angry over refereeing decisions. Whether anything will be done about it, or can be in the short-term, is a different question.

“It wasn’t the ref’s action that put us 3-0 down so we have to accept responsibility for that,” Caldwell said. “But this is the problem where we are not allowed to give our honest opinion. If we do, the FA gives me another large fine and I am not willing to pay another large fine.

“But people’s livelihoods are at stake here, and it’s a huge moment in the game. It’s not even nearly a penalty, it is a stonewall penalty. He’s looking right at it, and he has to get that decision right, and if he doesn’t, something needs to be done.

“If I don’t win games of football, something can happen to me. If players don’t perform, something happens to them. So there has to be something because, we might get a phone call to apologise, but it doesn’t help.

Gary Caldwell, Manager of Exeter City looks dejected as his side are not awarded a penalty during the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Exeter City and Blackpool at St James Park, Devon on 25 January 2025. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Gary Caldwell, Manager of Exeter City looks dejected as his side are not awarded a penalty during the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Exeter City and Blackpool at St James Park, Devon on 25 January 2025. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

“We try to speak calmly but that’s on them. They are a team and they have to get that decision right. How can you let someone on your team get that decision wrong? They all know it. They say nothing when we complain as they all know it’s a penalty. It’s not just for Exeter, it’s for everyone, we need to try and make this better, and I hope this doesn’t get me in trouble

“If we get the penalty, I think we get something from the game. It’s a huge incident, not a minor thing, and something that has to be looked at. I am sure we will get an apology but we need the standard to be better as four people in that moment get the decision wrong, not just the ref.”

The Grecians were probably edging the game before they fell behind after 33 minutes – and it was 3-0 by half-time and game over. Millenic Alli scored late on to make it 3-1, but it was too little, too late.

Goal celebrations for Millenic Alli of Exeter City during the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Exeter City and Blackpool at St James Park, Devon on 25 January 2025. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Goal celebrations for Millenic Alli of Exeter City during the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Exeter City and Blackpool at St James Park, Devon on 25 January 2025. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

Hamilton opened the scoring when he was left in acres of space on the counter attack and he clipped the finish home. Soon after it was two and following another defensive error. Tom Bloxham this time had the freedom of St James Park to break and he slotted home.

The third came in stoppage-time when again Bloxham broke after another City howler, and this time he set to Ashley Fletcher who finished with aplomb. Alli’s goal late on pulled one back, and City should have had a penalty which would have set up a grandstand finale, but it wasn’t to be, as City slipped down to 17 th . Blackpool, with a first win in eight, climbed to 14 th . Remarkably, City are still closer to the play-offs than the relegation zone.