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Jeff Stelling slams Richarlison after controversy in Everton win v Brighton
Jeff Stelling has condemned Richarlison’s behaviour after Everton penalty dramatics during Saturday afternoon’s win over Brighton.
The Blues kept up their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 victory over the Seagulls on the south coast, but there was a confrontation between Richarlison and his striker partner Dominic Calvert-Lewin during the second half.
After Rafa Benitez’s side won a penalty there was a debate over who should take the spot-kick as the Brazilian held onto the ball and refused to hand it over, despite the England international successfully converting one against Leeds United last week.
Sue Smith was commentating on the game for Sky Sports Soccer Saturday [28/08/21] and she detailed the fall-out between the forwards.
“There’s an argument between who is taking the penalty, Richarlison isn’t happy at all,” Smith said
“Calvert-Lewin has taken the ball off Richarlison and he [Richarlison] is absolutely fuming Jeff, they’ve tried to calm him down. [Seamus] Coleman and Allan have gone over to Richarlison and they’re just saying ‘calm down, it’s Calvert-Lewin, he’s the penalty taker’.
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“Richarlison just needs to calm it down.
“Benitez is not happy.
Soccer Saturday host Stelling said: “Richarlison’s behaviour, you just cannot have that.”
Poor form
It should be obvious who has the responsibilities – Calvert-Lewin took and converted one last week so he is clearly the designated spot-kick taker.
Remarkably, this is the second time in a matter of months that Calvert-Lewin has been on the receiving end of penalty dramatics.
He was involved in a dispute with Jordan Henderson in the summer after the Liverpool captain took the ball from the Blues forward during an England friendly.
Henderson duly missed, and it led to widespread debate in the media and online, with pundits questioning Calvert-Lewin’s character.
But he wasn’t about to let that happen again on Saturday as he won that battle with Richarlison before winning the battle with the Brighton goalkeeper.
As for the Brazilian, he must do much better than that.
It was schoolboy behaviour, and Rafa Benitez must issue him with a stern warning.
In other Everton news, the Blues are confident of signing this record-breaking striker amid an approach to his Saudi-owned club.
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