Everton VAR controversy leaves Michael Ball fuming in ‘rotten’ verdict
Everton were arguably on the wrong end of a VAR decision in their draw away at Fulham which has left Michael Ball absolutely furious.
Aleksandr Mitrovic caught Toffees midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye on the ankle as they both went into a 50/50 challenge in the middle of the pitch.
The referee only showed a yellow card and VAR did not overturn that decision or ask the official on the pitch to view it on the pitchside monitor.
“Darren England was the man on VAR duty. He has history with the Blues and some of the calls he has made seem to go against us, for one reason or another,” Ball said to the Liverpool Echo.
“And it is not just Everton. The decisions made by match officials are baffling a lot of people in the football world. No one seems to know the rules. It is all over the place from the very top.
“The consistency is rotten and in some cases, it is gone. And that is what leaves everyone frustrated. Can the club do more? I think so. I think the club should ask questions.
“They did last season and they should still be on top of them and not let them off lightly. Not just asking questions, they should be seeking explanations.”
Subjective
The Premier League is falling dangerously close to VAR officiating the entire game at the moment when incidents like this get scrutinised so much.
The technology is in place to ensure absolute howlers are rectified and they have been since its introduction but as this decision was not an obviously wrong one, it couldn’t really get involved.
Many decisions are subjective in football and that is why it is often the main topic of conversation in most pubs across the country and VAR has only increased that.
Frank Lampard may think it should have been a red card and you would expect nothing less in fairness but that doesn’t mean the wrong decision was made.
Everton should still be very content with a point on the road at Craven Cottage and take that momentum forwards to finish the first phase of the season well before the World Cup break hits.