Everton were denied a penalty against West Ham when Mateus Fernandes grappled with Thierno Barry in the area and swatted the ball away with his hand
David Moyes following Everton's defeat to West Ham
David Moyes following Everton's defeat to West Ham(Image: (Warren Little/Getty Images))
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Everton are to contact with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to express concerns about the consistency of officiating in the Premier League.
As first reported by The Times, the ECHO understands the club’s chief executive Angus Kinnear plans to speak to officials at the PGMOL after the Blues were denied a penalty against West Ham United on Saturday.
Everton were beaten 2-1 at the London Stadium after Callum Wilson scored in stoppage-time but that was only after David Moyes and his players were left furious when they weren’t awarded a penalty when the score was 1-0 to the hosts.
Mateus Fernandes grappled with Thierno Barry in the area and then swatted the ball away with his hand inside the box, but no penalty was awarded even after a VAR review.
Referee Stuart Attwell first waved away the appeals before Michael Salisbury on VAR duty reviewed the incident and deemed the handball to be accidental.
And the decision not to award a penalty has now led Kinnear to seek talks to voice the club’s concerns and seek answers.
Salisbury was also on VAR duty when Everton were denied a penalty in the second half of their 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal back in December.
That incident also involved Barry, who had his boot kicked by Arsenal defender William Saliba after getting to the ball first.
The Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel later voted 3-2 that Salisbury should have sent the match official to the monitor to change his decision.
Thierno Barry clashes with William Saliba of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Thierno Barry clashes with William Saliba of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
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Everton are now 11th in the table after their European hopes suffered another setback in the capital, but Moyes was amazed his side were not awarded a penalty.
He said: “I'm a bit surprised. I've been to see them [the officials] and VAR are saying it was grappling – well, the boy marking him was grappling. He punched the ball. It would have been harsh, but I'm amazed they haven't given it.”
While the Scot also said: “It’s not as if the ball comes onto his hand, his arm goes towards the ball. I think today’s the first time I’ve heard the word ‘accidental’ being used. I think that word had been taken out of the vocabulary really.”
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