Everton ace Richarlison ‘conned’ referee for penalty – Richards Keys
Everton missed the chance to secure their Premier League safety on Sunday (15 May) as they fell to a 3-2 defeat at home to Brentford.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison were among the goals but an own goal by Seamus Coleman, followed by goals from Yoane Wissa and Rico Henry, saw the Bees take all three points back to the capital.
Richarlison’s goal came from the penalty spot but Richard Keys believes the Brazilian was fortunate to be awarded the spot-kick having been denied a more obvious foul in the area earlier in the first half.
“What didn’t Michael Oliver see when Richarlison almost had his shirt ripped off his back before Brentford broke and Branthwaite ended up getting himself sent off? That was a pen,” Keys wrote in his online blog.
“Why wasn’t Oliver invited to have a look himself and make up his own mind? Again – I’ll tell you why – because VAR plainly thought he hadn’t made a ‘clear and obvious’ error.
“It’s the wrong way round. VAR should be assisting – and letting the ref make the final decision, but it isn’t. It’s making all the big calls. It’s wrong.
“My guess is Michael Oliver felt he owed Everton a pen when he pointed to the spot on halftime. That was never a pen.
“Richarlison conned him going to the ground screaming. Oliver couldn’t have seen the offence – so he guessed. If he’d been invited to look at the view we all had – from behind the goal – he’d have changed his mind. But he wasn’t asked to check his decision.”
One for one
By Keys’ logic, there should have been one Everton penalty at Goodison Park on Sunday, and there was, but there is so much more to the situation than just that.
The first penalty shout that wasn’t given was a stonewall spot-kick and even the Brentford fans might have assumed so too but as that wasn’t given, play went on.
That’s when Jarrad Branthwaite got caught the wrong side of Ivan Toney who went down and got the teenager sent off which had a huge impact on the game.
If it had remained 11 versus 11, the Toffees may have had enough to go on and win having battled so well with 10-men and even though Oliver evened up the scores later in the half, he couldn’t send off a yellow shirt at the same time which still meant it was better for the Bees.
It is not the kind of misfortune Everton needs right now but they have two more chances to ensure they will still be a Premier League side next year so this result needs to be shaken off as quickly as possible.
In other Everton news, this soon-to-be free agent is attracting eyes from Goodison Park who could make a move very soon.
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