Everton were on the receiving end of a controversial VAR call against West Ham at the weekend – and it was just the latest of several involving the club this season.
The handball by Mateus Fernandes that was waved away by referee Stuart Attwell and then upheld by VAR Michael Salisbury left David Moyes very unhappy.
Why has it taken this long for Everton to complain? 🤷♂️
The club have FINALLY had enough… 😡
Angus Kinnear, Managing Director of Leeds United alongside Victor Orta, Sporting Director of Leeds United prior to the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Leeds United.
Credit: Getty Images/Michael Steele
Fans have also raged, with many suggesting it was a stonewall penalty.
The Premier League have claimed it was ‘accidental’ by Fernandes, but the decision has been slammed by the wider football community, during a hugely high stakes period for both Everton, West Ham and also Tottenham Hotspur.
Angus Kinnear will hold talks with the PGMO to air his concerns, and we look back on some of the decisions that have led him to take a stand.
Penalty given against James Tarkowski vs Leeds
In the very first game of the season, a penalty was awarded against Everton after James Tarkowski was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area.
Tarkowski’s arm was tucked in as he blocked the shot, but it was deemed a deliberate handball.
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Leeds would convert the penalty and Everton lost the game, with that decision rather setting the tone for the season.
Jake O’Brien has goal disallowed vs Aston Villa
It may not have mattered in the end as Everton won this game 1-0, but it was definitely still controversial.
Jake O’Brien saw a goal chalked off at Villa Park for an apparent interference by an offside Harrison Armstrong.
The youngster challenged Emiliano Buendia, but there was a strong argument to say Buendia was never getting to the ball which found O’Brien.
The Michael Keane hair pull incident vs Wolves
Michael Keane jostles with Tolu Arokodare.
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
This moment was a huge talking point, and is one that is often revisited when there are new instances of it happening.
Keane was jostling with Tolu Arokodare and was deemed to have pulled the striker’s hair. As that was the perceived offence, it had to be violent conduct.
But many said the pull, which was extremely light, was completely accidental as Keane looked to gain leverage to contest the aerial duel.
What is frustrating for Everton is that Kenny Tete got away with a hair pull against Antoine Semenyo when Fulham played Manchester City not long after.
And there was another incident just this weekend, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin appearing to get hold of Marc Cucurella’s hair. It wasn’t deemed a pull, but Everton would have been asking consistency questions.
Thierno Barry penalty claim waved away vs Arsenal
Thierno Barry is challenged by William Saliba.
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Everton felt very aggrieved against Arsenal when striker Thierno Barry was kicked in the box by William Saliba.
The decision was later reviewed by the Key Match Incidents Panel, with a 3-2 vote in favour that Everton should have had a spot-kick.
After a very similar incident led to a penalty for Fulham against Nottingham Forest just days later, Moyes admitted (via BBC Sport): “I was half-choking last night when I saw the decision given [to Fulham] and ours wasn’t. It feels as though certain clubs get those decisions and other clubs don’t.”
Four games to go, have Everton blown their hopes of European? 🫣
Everton are only three points off sixth, though… 🤔
Premier League table.
Credit: Getty Images/Richard Pelham
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall denied penalty vs Liverpool
In the first ever Merseyside Derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall went down after being barged in the box by Curtis Jones.
The penalty shouts were waved away, leaving fans and Moyes baffled.
The argument afterwards was that Dewsbury-Hall had no reason to go down under a challenge when he was through on goal.
Jones escaped any kind of punishment, when he was lucky not to have been sent off.
Mateus Fernandes handball waved away vs Everton
It is seemingly the moment that has prompted Everton to say ‘Enough is enough’.
Can someone tell me why this wasn’t a penalty? 😤
A handball call on West Ham midfielder matheus fernandes against Everton.
Credit: GRV Media
Fernandes moved his hand towards the ball while grappling with Barry, and slapped the ball out of play.
The decision has been widely slammed, with Fernandes’ hand clearly moving towards the ball and then snuffing out the danger.
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