Keith Hackett: Raheem Sterling lucky to escape punishment as Manchester City beat Everton 3-0
We’re delighted to welcome former Premier League referee Keith Hackett as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Everton...
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett is adamant that Manchester City star Raheem Sterling was lucky to escape a clear yellow card against Everton.
Manchester City comfortably beat Everton 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon with second-half goals from Rodri and Bernardo Silva adding to Sterling’s first-half opener.
Pep Guardiola’s side did not make the breakthrough until the 44th-minute but they could have been in front earlier had referee Stuart Attwell’s decision to hand them a penalty stood.
After consulting with the VAR, however, Attwell overruled his initial call to award a penalty against Michael Keane for a trip on Sterling.
“He’s guessed it, you could tell that,” Hackett told Goodison News. “You can tell that because there was a delay in pointing to the spot.
“I just wonder how often referees have got to start explaining their decision during this VAR review.
“He was lucky, at the end of the day surrounded by protesting players, they’re clear he’s got it wrong, VAR advised him that he got it wrong.
“For me, there are two points – don’t guess, those are the areas you get into problems. It could be down to lazy refereeing because they know they’re going to get pulled out the mire, or the heats goes on the VAR guy rather than the referee.
“Then the penalty kick is awarded and then I’m saying well, looking at the replays, it’s even more convincing that Sterling has dived, there’s no contact. He’s not even trying to get out of the way, he’s gone to ground and his actions are to deceive the referee.
“I think Sterling should have had a yellow card.
“These are things in a big game that you shouldn’t get wrong that have been wiped out by the fact Manchester City won easily against Everton.
“It’s poor officiating.”
In other Everton news, Jermaine Jenas slammed this Blues star on BBC Match of the Day after what he did v Manchester City.
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