Everton manager David Moyes said the video assistant referee should not have intervened after a late penalty decision in his team’s favour against Manchester United was overturned.
The sides contested a thrilling 2-2 draw on Saturday, but the Toffees thought they had a golden chance to win it in injury time when referee Andrew Madley awarded a penalty after Ashley Young went down in the box.
There appeared to be a shirt pull by United defender Matthijs de Ligt, with Harry Maguire also in close proximity.
But after being told to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, Madley decided to change his original decision.
Moyes said: “If it’s absolutely clear and obvious he should go to the screen, but I didn’t see that – he pulled his jersey.
“I thought the referee made the correct decision at the time and he should have stuck with it.
“I think for everybody who watches football we are all looking forward to a referee saying ‘no I am sticking to what I have done’. They are being told they are absolutely wrong.
“We have seen very few say ‘it is a penalty kick’. If it was absolutely clear and obvious and it is wrong, then that is what we have got VAR for.”
The scoreline was level and with five minutes added on both sides were aiming to secure victory late on in an enthralling contest.
In the 94th minute, Idrissa Gueye’s thumping drive was pushed back into the danger area by Amadou Onana and a combination of Maguire and De Ligt appeared to bring down Young.
Replays showed there was clearly a touch on the veteran full-back, but was there enough contact to send him tumbling to the turf?
The Premier League Match Centre said:, external “VAR checked the referee’s call of penalty to Everton for a challenge by Maguire on Young and deemed that no foul had been committed and recommended an on-field review.
“The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with a drop ball.”
Asked about the Premier League’s explanation, Moyes said: “So did they look at the shirt pull? So they only mentioned the bit they needed to and not the shirt pull? It looked to me as though the shirt pull was enough.
“I am not an expert on VAR, I can only tell you what I have seen. You shouldn’t be getting away with pulling jerseys. From the touchline I thought he had gone over somebody’s leg.”
United manager Ruben Amorim added: “I think it was a soft touch from what I saw. I think it was a soft penalty, it was clear.”
Everton fans were left irate by the decision and loudly jeered Madley when he went down the tunnel at full-time.
Everton had gone two up in the first half courtesy of goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure, but United hit back in the second period through Bruno Fernandes’ delightful free-kick and Manuel Ugarte’s first goal for the Red Devils.
There was edge-of-the-seat drama late on when it appeared like Everton had the chance to win it from the spot, but that opportunity was snatched away, and a real split emerged between the broadcast pundits on whether a penalty should have been confirmed.
Former Everton winger Theo Walcott said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “I totally agree with the referee, I don’t think that was a penalty. Naturally [when you are challenged] you don’t fall that way.”
Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “It is very, very soft, but Maguire does get a tug of the shirt on Young. He has made a mess of it.”
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said on TNT: “I was fearing the worst when VAR got involved. I was surprised it wasn’t given. The contact is there. When you put your hands on someone you give the referee a decision.”
Former Scotland striker Ally McCoist said on TNT: “You know something, I can see why he’s not given it, but I would have given it. I think there’s enough of a tug on him [Ashley Young].”
