Everton supporters could be forgiven for wondering exactly how much contact is required before their side are awarded a penalty.
Saturday brought another disputed decision during the 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall went down following a challenge from James Hill.
Referee Chris Kavanagh waved away the appeal, and VAR John Brooks decided not to intervene.
The incident has now been discussed on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, with former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher defending the decision.
Gallagher’s argument centred on Hill not seeing Dewsbury-Hall as the incident developed.
Former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd challenged that interpretation, pointing to footage which appeared to show Hill looking towards Dewsbury-Hall before moving across him.
Evertonians will have their own view of what the pictures show.
What is the threshold for an Everton penalty?
The frustration does not begin and end with Bournemouth.
Everton were twice subsequently judged to have been wrongly denied penalties last season.
The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel concluded that William Saliba’s challenge on Thierno Barry against Arsenal should have resulted in a spot-kick.
Months later, the same panel unanimously decided Everton should have been awarded another when Bernardo Silva held Merlin Röhl during the 3-3 draw with City.
David Moyes was furious about the latter decision at the time.
“If that doesn’t get given as a penalty, then it’s an absolute free-for-all from now on,” he said.
There is no need to suggest Everton are being deliberately treated differently. Refereeing decisions are subjective and every club can produce examples they believe went against them.
But Everton have recent evidence for questioning where that threshold sits.
Two decisions last season were subsequently judged to be wrong.
Now Dewsbury-Hall can seemingly be blocked inside the Bournemouth penalty area without another spot-kick following.
Evertonians are entitled to ask what it will take.
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