Richard Keys cannot believe news today after Everton developments
Richard Keys has questioned the Premier League’s refereeing decisions after Chris Kavanagh red-carded Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Everton against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup.
Kavanagh was advised to take a second look at the Toffees forward’s tackle on Nathaniel Clyne before giving him his marching orders, a decision that has now been rescinded.
The referee has now been handed the refereeing duties for Manchester City against Newcastle United, as well as being the VAR official for a huge clash between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. But Keys has called for punishment, rather than pushing everything under the rug.
“You can’t make this up. Chris Kavanagh who oversaw Dominic Calvert-Lewin appealed sending off get Newcastle v Man City and VAR duties for Man United v Spurs this weekend,” he wrote via X on Wednesday (10 January).
“Altrincham-based Antony Taylor conned by Fernandes gets Chelsea. Pawson gets Brighton. Salisbury gets Sheffield United. They should all be given the weekend off to study.”
Change needs to be made
VAR continues to cause more problems than it is meant to solve, continuing to cost clubs points during another tightly-contested Premier League season.
Calvert-Lewin’s red card is the latest evidence against the technology, with Kavanagh getting the original decision correct before being advised to check the pitchside monitor and, seemingly, pressured into reversing his choice.
However, no one has been punished for the incident, other than Everton who had to go through the process of having their player’s suspension revoked. The referees will continue to do their jobs at the highest level, even when they seem to be out of their depth.
Players and managers are questioned for their mistakes after a match, in post-match press conferences or tunnel interviews. So why are our league’s referees allowed the privilege of skipping any answers to the mistakes they continue to make?
Instead, they are rewarded with some of the biggest matches of the weekend, such as Man City versus Newcastle or Man United versus Spurs. It makes no sense. Change is required.
In other Everton news, a Toffees-linked player is now in advanced talks to secure a move to Sheffield United in the January transfer window.