Crystal Palace v Everton incident shocks Keith Hackett after VAR controversy
Keith Hackett has been left surprised by VAR developments as Everton battled to yet another impressive Premier League win against Crystal Palace.
The Toffees took the lead through Beto in the first half at Selhurst Park on Saturday, with Carlos Alcaraz scoring the winner after Jean Philippe Mateta had equalised.
Jefferson Lerma thought he had opened the scoring before all of that though, but his header was ruled out after the assistant deemed a corner had gone out of play before curling back in.
With a lack of evidence to prove that wrong, the officials’ decision was held up.
Premier League surprise after VAR announcement
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News after the incident, Hackett admitted that the lack of camera angles surprises him in the Premier League.
The ex-PGMOL chief and FIFA referee believes that goal-line technology should be extended to cover the entire line to the corner flags to avoid incidents like this.
“In the interests of our game and the aim for accuracy in the decision-making process, I am surprised that Goal Line Technology has not been expended to cover the complete goal line from corner flag to corner flag,” he said.
“Therefore with that technology shortfall, you have to rely on the assistant referee who is in the best position to judge and the referee to confirm his decision.
“We therefore have to accept the accuracy level of the match officials.”
Beto wins it for Everton
Beto was sensational yet again, battling away in the final third and scoring the first goal, but the striker was still raging after a key moment at Selhurst Park.
Lerma may have been baffled to see his goal disallowed in the opening stages of the game, but it was the right decision with little evidence and the linesman in the perfect position.
David Moyes will be delighted as his Everton side now looks towards the top half of the Premier League, rather than any relegation battle ahead of the move to Bramley Moore Dock.
With four wins out of the last five in the Premier League and the drama-packed 2-2 draw against Liverpool, Everton are flying right now and even getting a help-in-hand – how often can they have said that in recent years?