Robbie Savage, Chris Sutton rage at ex-FIFA official live on BT Sport after Everton controversy v Bournemouth
BT Sport pundits Robbie Savage and Chris Sutton were left raging at Peter Walton after Everton forward Demarai Gray was fouled inside the box against Bournemouth on Sunday.
The Toffees claimed a dramatic final-day 1-0 victory over the Cherries on Sunday (28 May) to secure their Premier League status for next season, but there could have been a disaster for Sean Dyche’s side when VAR ruled against a foul against Gray in the first half.
The Everton forward seemed to have been illegally fouled by Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi in the box for which VAR ruled there wasn’t enough contact to award a penalty decision.
And speaking on BT Sports Score [28 May], ex-FIFA official Walton believes the referee Stuart Atwell made the decision because he felt there wasn’t enough contact.
Savage responded by saying: “I know what Pete’s saying there but it’s a penalty, there is enough contact to put him over, his foots in the air, he’s booted the back of his heel!”
Sutton said: “It’s a cop-out from Pete!”
Walton responded: “I would have been happy had Atwell given a penalty.”
Savage then said: “What on earth? There are six ex-footballers on this sofa, all saying it’s a stonewall penalty, and the most important person doesn’t think it is. How?!”
Controversial
Everton are incredibly fortunate that the controversial decision didn’t cost them their Premier League status for next season, as the referees could well have been left answering a lot of questions after that debacle.
Gray was clearly fouled by Senesi in that first-half incident and Everton fans and Dyche will have been forgiven for thinking Sunday wasn’t their day to claim a crucial victory.
Doucoure certainly saved the Everton bacon on the day after his terrific strike but it could have been much worse and these incompetent decisions by referees have been a recurring theme all season.
Something has got to be done by Howard Webb to improve VAR because there have indeed been some stonewall penalties that have not been looked at.
Everton will certainly forget about this incident because of their safety from relegation, but these controversial decisions simply cannot go unchecked any longer.