Everton demand apology from Premier League for VAR controversy
Everton have made an official complaint to the Premier League, to demand an apology following the VAR decision against Manchester City, The Athletic report.
Both the on-field official Paul Tierney and the video assistant Chris Kavanagh failed to award a penalty for handball against Rodri late in the 1-0 defeat on Saturday (27 February).
The failure of Kavanagh not to refer the decision back to Tierney for review was particularly surprising, with Frank Lampard calling it “incompetent at best” on Sky Sports after the game.
Patrick Boyland in The Athletic reports that Toffees CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale’s has complained to the league, writing: “She has expressed grave concerns at the quality of officiating in Everton matches recently – not just on Saturday.
“She and Everton are demanding an apology be given to manager Lampard and his players about Saturday’s VAR decision.”
No surprise
The decision has received almost universal derision so it is understandable that the club are unhappy enough to make a formal complaint.
What difference it will ultimately make is unlikely to be great, but an apology would constitute a form of moral victory.
But an apology is not points, which is what the manager and his players badly need, and were it not for an unfortunate error from Michael Keane, and the baffling decision of the officials, they probably would have got at least one against the league leaders.
Considering how the home and away form since the former Chelsea boss arrived have been poles apart, it is especially important for results to be achieved at Goodison.
And despite the level of opposition on Saturday, another strong showing in front of the home fans looked to have been enough to spring a surprise.
The late Phil Foden winner, and the even later handball going unpunished, left a bitter taste, illustrated by Ashley Cole passionately remonstrating with Tierney after the final whistle.
The coach received a yellow card for his protests, which didn’t help, and the club were left just a point above the relegation zone.
In other Everton news, one Toffees player is reportedly facing an uncertain future due to FFP.