Manchester United defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire challenge Ashley Young during the final stages of the game between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
The controversial call to deny Everton a late penalty against Manchester United was the RIGHT decision, a scrutiny panel reportedly found.
The draw ended in contentious fashion when referee Andy Madley pointed to the spot after Ashley Young went down under contact from both Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt.
But VAR intervened and, after an agonising wait, Madley overturned his original decision. The move sparked fury in Everton’s dressing room and in the stands, while the dominant reaction on social media – including among former players and referees – was one of disbelief.
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The penalty decision was a mess of different factors and approaches. Madley blew for a foul against Maguire, which clouded the process when replays showed de Ligt had made greater contact with Young.
Madley, having been sent to his screen by the VAR, overturned his call on Maguire. But while a de Ligt shirt pull was considered, because a foul had not been given for that element of the incident, it received less attention – including, controversially, Madley not being provided with the best angles that showed the nature and extent of the contact.
Criticism after the match varied from concern that VAR should not have stepped in for what many felt was a call that was subjective enough not to interfere with the on-field call, to questions over why the de Ligt involvement did not receive more in-depth attention.
Former top flight official Dermot Gallagher said he believed Everton should have had a penalty when reviewing the decision on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch programme days later.
While he believed Maguire’s role did not constitute a penalty, his belief was the call was tight enough for VAR not to intervene – a view shared after the match by Everton boss David Moyes – and that de Ligt’s actions did warrant a spot kick.
He said: “For me, the best solution is stick with the referee and VAR not to get involved. Once VAR got involved it raised a number of issues that didn’t really need raising.
“I think the ref gave the penalty against Maguire. I don’t think Maguire has fouled him but De Ligt has got hold of his shirt for long enough to give the penalty.”
But ESPN has reported that an oversight board, the Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has ruled in favour of the official’s actions on the day. The group, made up of three ex-players and/or coaches and an official from each of the Premier League and referee body the PGMOL, agreed unanimously backed the decision to overturn the penalty and voted 4-1 in favour of VAR wading in to the discussions about w
hether it should stand.
