Richard Keys blasts Everton ‘nonsense’ after what officials told him
Everton should have been awarded a penalty for a foul on Beto in their 4-0 win against Leicester City on Saturday, according to Richard Keys.
The former Sky Sports commentator revealed that the Premier League match centre cited Beto not being in control of the ball as the reason why Jannik Vestergaard was not penalised for a shove in the box in the first half of the Premier League game on 1 February.
Keys, though, was having none of it as he branded the reasoning as “nonsense” and hit out the referees’ understanding of the game.
“Everton should’ve had a pen when Beto was cleaned out in the box”, Keys wrote in a column on his website (3 February).
“‘He wasn’t in control the of the ball’ the matchday centre told us – proof that these guys know the laws but nothing about football.
“Beto wasn’t in control of the ball for either of his two goals.
“He didn’t have a touch before scoring on both occasions. Absolute nonsense. It was a pen.”
Everton get job done against Leicester anyway
The disallowed penalty would have been a great source of frustration for Everton in the first half of the season under Sean Dyche.
However, it did not really matter to David Moyes’ side on this occasion as they thrashed Leicester 4-0, courtesy of a brace from Beto and a goal each from Abdoulaye Doucoure and Iliman Ndiaye.
Moyes has led the Merseyside-based club to wins in three of his four games in charge of them since returning as their manager in January.
This means the Goodison Park outfit are now nine points clear of the relegation zone with a game in hand.
Therefore, there is an air of positivity at Finch Farm, with Carlos Alcaraz’s arrival from Flamengo also confirmed on transfer deadline day.
Having won three games on the bounce, Everton will look to extend their winning streak to four games when they lock horns with Bournemouth in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, 8 February.
In other Everton news, sources have made a new Moyes admission after deadline day.
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