Everton: Ex-FIFA official blasts Michael Oliver over controversial incident v Bournemouth
Keith Hackett has blasted Michael Oliver after a controversial incident during the Premier League clash between Everton and Bournemouth.
Sean Dyche’s side failed to end their winless run in the Premier League on Saturday (30 March) as a late own goal from Seamus Coleman ensured that the Cherries claimed all three points with a 2-1 win on the south coast.
However, former Fifa official Hackett believes the Toffees were denied a penalty when Dominic Calvert-Lewin was tripped and has taken aim at Oliver who was on VAR duty for not overturning Samuel Barrot’s decision.
Writing on X on Sunday (31 March) he said: “Everton on the wrong end of another poor decision. Ref Barrot said ‘no’ when Everton’s Calvert Lewin was clearly tripped.
“VAR Oliver once again failed to assist his colleague. Come on Michael do your job. That WAS a Foul and Penalty kick. You let your colleague down.”
Will Everton avoid relegation from the Premier League into the Championship?
While Everton have been nowhere near good enough under Dyche in the Premier League in the last few months, it does feel as though nearly everything is going against them to try and stop them dodging relegation this term.
Whether it be the point deductions for breaches of profit and sustainable rules or poor decisions like the one made against Bournemouth, the Toffees just can’t catch a break and they deserve more than a stroke of luck.
Hopefully, something will shift sooner rather than later because at the moment it is hard to see how the Blues stay up. They can’t buy a win in the league and a further point deduction is understood to be just around the corner.
While Dyche deserves some of the criticism, it has felt as though the Everton boss is fighting a losing battle at times. Something needs to change if the Toffees still want to be playing in the Premier League next term.
How VAR missed arguably one of the clearest trips and penalties is beyond most fans, but it has almost become expected when Dyche’s side is involved.
In other Everton news, Ashley Young has made a new decision over his future at Goodison Park beyond the end of the season
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