Mike Dean drops ‘token gesture’ verdict to incident in Everton v Tottenham
Jack Harrison was always going to be awarded his first-half goal in Everton versus Tottenham, Mike Dean said live on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday.
The winger got the final touch from a well-worked Toffees corner to cancel out Richarlison’s opener after Dominic Calvert-Lewin got his head on the ball.
There was a check from the VAR at Goodison Park after a complaint from visiting goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
But former Premier League official Dean, speaking on Soccer Saturday (3 February, 1 pm), said it was an appeal that was destined to fall on deaf ears.
“I’d like to think (it will stand),” he said.
“The only way you chalk this out is if you really go looking for something because there’s nothing that stands out.
“When the ball hit the back of the net, the keeper never said a word and it’s like more of a token gesture at the end of it.
“Harrison wouldn’t have been offside because there’s a goalkeeper and the defender, the goalkeeper’s in the goal and counts as the secondary most defender.”
The Toffees earned a dramatic 2-2 draw with a last-gasp equaliser after Richarlison had twice put Tottenham in front.
Everton have a decision finally go their way
Well, who would have had Everton finally getting a decision going their way on their bingo card?
Let me clarify, there was absolutely nothing contentious about this, it was just a goalkeeper desperately trying to maintain a clean sheet.
But we all know Everton have had a ridiculous amount of “right” decisions not given this season so it was refreshing for once to see just a touch of competence and the goal allowed to stand.
It was a goal that proved extremely crucial in the end as, despite former Toffees striker Richarlison scoring twice, the hosts walked away with a point thanks to a last-gasp equaliser from Jarrad Branthwaite.
On top of that crucial point, the club have now had their appeal against a 10-point deduction heard, their appeal barrister was even at Goodison Park today, and there was another protest against the Premier League here against Spurs, and it would be very nice to have some of those hard-earned points back on the board and ease those fears about the drop just a little.
In other Everton news, here are our player ratings from the game against Tottenham.
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