Ashley Williams unhappy with referee decision as Everton penalty v Tottenham Hotspur reversed
Ashley Williams suggests Everton were hard done by at Goodison Park on Sunday during their 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
The former Wales captain, who made 73 appearances for the Blues between 2016-2019, appeared as a pundit on BBC Match of the Day 2 [07/11/21] after the game, and delivered his verdict on an incident involving Richarlison and Spurs shot-stopper Hugo Lloris.
“Rafa Benitez thought it was a penalty, you don’t,” Mark Chapman said.
“No, I don’t think so, I think the VAR got it right,” Williams replied. “We all said at the time, that’s not a penalty.”
However, Williams believes Everton were in a promising position when referee Chris Kavanagh blew the whistle for a penalty that was subsequently ruled out by VAR.
Williams said: “But I think what Everton should be more aggrieved about is the fact that Tottenham get the ball back and if it’s not a penalty then Richarlison has got the ball on the edge of the box with the goal wide open, so that’s something that needs to be looked at that no one’s talking about.
“Richarlison gets straight up, plays on, fair play to him and then he’s got a free shot on goal actually and Tottenham get the ball back, which is disappointing.”
Premature?
The penalty was a debatable decision; it was probably the right call by Kavanagh as Lloris got a glove on the ball, though if that was an outfielder’s foot in the centre of midfield it’s unlikely that would have been a major factor.
However, what was concerning is that Kavanagh was so quick to blow the whistle – why did he not allow the play to develop a couple of seconds longer?
He blew as Richarlison was hitting the ground, but the Brazilian rose straight back up to resume play as the ball was free on the edge of the box, with Lloris stranded.
Of course, Goodison would have erupted if the referee had not immediately signalled for a penalty, but that is where Kavanagh has to be stronger and wait for further developments.
As it was, Everton’s penalty was reversed, and the positive situation they found themselves in was abolished because of the referee’s decision.
In other Everton news, Roy Keane has pointed to the Blues as a big example in a passionate Sky Sports rant.
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