Garth Crooks dumbfounded by VAR as Vitalii Mykolenko stuns for Everton v Crystal Palace
Garth Crooks was left stunned by Everton defender Vitalii Mykolenko as he helped his side stroll to a 3-0 victory against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
The BBC was wowed by the Ukrainian’s block on Odsonne Edouard before he was heavily involved in the build-up before Anthony Gordon found the back of the net.
Crooks was left puzzled by the assistant referee though, who initially ruled out the goal for offside despite it not even being close, with a new conspiracy raised.
Writing in his BBC Team of the Week column, Crooks was left stunned by developments at Goodison Park as the Toffees eased to victory.
“I thought the block by Mykolenko, on Crystal Palace’s Odsonne Edouard in the second half was superb, while his shot that set up Anthony Gordon’s goal was typical of the defender’s keenness to join the attack and make the extra man,” he wrote.
“Why the referee’s assistant felt the need to raise his flag when it was clear Gordon was onside was puzzling. I hope we haven’t got to a situation where Stockley Park is telling the officials to raise their flag, just in case, merely so they can utilise their equipment regardless whether the move is offside or not.
“If so it’s nothing more than jobs for the boys. VAR involvement needs to be reviewed so the fans know precisely what its role is.”
Embarrassing.
The officials in the Premier League are simply getting worst every single week, and it isn’t just for Everton.
How on earth this assistant referee believed Gordon to be offside is beyond us, and is just another example of incompetence at the highest level.
We have seen it far too many times though and linesmen themselves don’t know what they’re doing, as one moment they flag instantly, and the next, they wait five minutes.
Thankfully, VAR sorted it out but as Crooks says, this should not be praised for saving the blushes of the officials, who are now just making decisions simply as they have something to fall back on.
Everton will not be the only club to have these complaints either, but thankfully, it was a dominating performance which led to them getting three points with ease – regardless of the controversy.
This was a huge step in the right direction, and long may that continue.