Everton should have been given a free kick for a push on Beto in the lead up to Tomas Soucek’s opening goal for West Ham at Goodison Park, says Keith Hackett.

The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the incident was too far back in the passage of play for VAR to intervene and disallow the goal.

Beto was initially transformed following David Moyes’ return to Goodison Park, enjoying his best run of form for the Toffees.

His form has dipped recently though, and the Everton striker was poor as his side drew 1-1 with West Ham on Saturday (15 March).

Even so, it seems he can feel hard done by over his role in the opening goal his side conceded in that game.

Beto fouled before Thomas Soucek scores

Just after the hour-mark in the game, an Everton throw-in from inside their own half was sent towards Beto on the halfway line.

But as the striker jumped to win the ball in the air, he was pushed in the back by a West Ham defender, although referee Darren Bond did not blow his whistle to award a free kick.

That allowed the Hammers to push forward, and several seconds later they would take the lead when Soucek fired in from inside the Everton penalty area.

Hackett though believes Bond should have blow to give the Toffees a free kick for the push on Beto, which would have prevented Graham Potter‘s side from taking the lead.

However, he also believes VAR were right not to intervene due to the length of time between the push and the ball hitting the back of the Everton net.

‘Everton hard done by over West Ham opener’ – Keith Hackett

After being asked by Football Insider if Everton were unlucky to concede given the push on Beto, the former referee said:

“I think we can say that West Ham have gained possession illegally because of that push, but in reviewing that VAR I think is not going to go that far back.

“I think that I have sympathy that there was a push, it’s been missed or they’ve deemed it not sufficient to penalise.

“But I just think that referees at the highest level, they’re appearing not to understand what safe refereeing is all about.

“We used to operate with safe refereeing, and that is in that situation, rather than take the chance, give the free kick, because the opposing team have gained from what is a foul.

“So there is a push, it is a foul, it’s been ignored, it’s not acted upon, a goal eventually has resulted from it but I think generally it’s too far to go back (for VAR).”

Despite going behind here, Jake O’Brien’s stoppage time goal would ensure Everton secured a 1-1 draw from the game, extending their unbeaten run in the Premier League under Moyes.

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