Everton suffered a 1-0 defeat to Leeds United in their opening Premier League game.
Everton struggled to cope with Leeds United’s press in the first half, but they managed to grow into it in the second period.
Jack Grealish made his Everton debut in the 70th minute, and he tried to push for the winner without much success.
Leeds found the winner in the 84th minute through Lukas Nmecha, who converted from the penalty spot.
James Tarkowski has now been speaking to Sky Sports about the controversial penalty decision.
Everton centre-back James Tarkowski.
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
James Tarkowski shares what the referee told him after controversial penalty in Everton vs Leeds United
The Tarkowski penalty incident has sparked a lot of debate, with many baffled at the decision considering his arm was behind his back.
The Everton defender explained post-match that the referee wasn’t convinced that it was a penalty, but was recommended to give it by the linesman.
“It’s not a penalty,” Tarkowski said. “As soon as the ref blew, I was pretty confident it was going to get overturned.
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“My first question to him was ‘If my arm was by my side – which it was – is it a penalty?’ To which he said no.
“I’ve since read that I leaned into the ball, but there’s nothing unnatural about my arm being by my side. The ball’s allowed to hit your arm, it’s just not allowed to be away from your body unnaturally, which it wasn’t.
“I can’t understand it, really. The linesman gave it apparently, who was 45 yards away and I don’t understand how he can see what I’ve done with my arm from the angle.
“Bizarre – and it cost us a point in the end.”
"The linesman gave it apparently. He was 45 yards away and I don't understand how can he see what I've done with my arm from the angle"
James Tarkowski says it was a 'bizarre' decision to award a penalty against him 🧐 pic.twitter.com/0p7NIzxTbN
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 18, 2025
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David Moyes raging at James Tarkowski penalty decision
Speaking post-match, David Moyes was raging at the decision, as he revealed that he’d gone in to speak to the referee.
“In the second half alone, we might’ve had a chance of winning the game but the goal was completely wrong, really harsh. It’s difficult to lose on that.
“I’ve been in and spoken to the referee. They seem to think because you lean, your arms can go away. You’re allowed to lean in football, unless someone’s going to pull one of these rules out that if you lean, it’s a penalty.
“The ball took a deflection, I don’t know where Tarky would have had to get his arm chopped of to. It wasn’t outside his body, it wasn’t doing anything different.
“It’s not been a good week for me, I’ve only seen some of the referees and some of the performances but tonight, it was a poor decision.”
The Toffees were certainly very unfortunate, but there is clearly a pressing need to get more quality in before the window slams shut
Moyes said he hopes to get more business done before the end of the window.