Credit: Imago

Carla Devine

Mon 24 February 2025 8:01, UK

Alan Pardew was left shocked by the late controversy in the Everton draw against Manchester United, speculating what it could have meant.

The Toffees raced into a two-goal lead against the Red Devils at Goodison Park on Saturday before late goals from Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte brought them level at 2-2.

Everton were then handed what looked like a clear penalty for a pull on Ashley Young, only to see VAR intervene with some horrid angles shown on the monitor to reverse that call.

Pardew baffled by VAR penalty verdict for Everton

VAR continued to steal the show when it came to the action-packed draw between Everton and David Moyes’ former club.

While it is probably fair to say that Young did go down theatrically in the box, that doesn’t mean to say that a penalty wasn’t the correct decision.

Therefore, given you could see clear contact on the shirt, the fact that Andy Madley overturned his initial decision despite having another opportunity to see it is a confusing outcome.

Discussing the incident live on talkSPORT (23 February, 18:10), Pardew admitted his confusion, speculating: “Can you imagine if that was the last game of the season and Everton needed to win to stay up and that decision went against them? Then that feeling would be slightly different.

“They’re aggrieved now at the moment but they would have been really aggrieved because it did look on that one camera angle, where he’s pulling his shirt there, it’s a definite penalty and I think that’s the kind of referee’s angle hence why he gives it.

“But the two clips that you then went on to see, it didn’t look like a penalty. It looked like Young dived so it was a strange decision. I personally think it was a penalty.”

VAR continues to steal the show

VAR has been a constant source of frustration for many football fans since its introduction several seasons ago and this is exactly the reason why.

Madley was in a good position on the pitch to view the penalty decision and he chose to give it. However, the recommendation was that he then went to look at the monitor and was shown some less convincing angles.

Luckily for the Toffees, with their much-improved form under Moyes, this isn’t a decision that will look to have too much of an impact on where they finish this term.

However, as pointed out by Pardew, if the Blues were at the wrong end of the table and fighting in the relegation zone, this is one decision that could change their entire season.

Moyes’ side sit happily above Manchester United in the Premier League table so the extra points from a potential goal would’ve just extended that gap slightly.

Nevertheless, the Blues will be counting themselves lucky that they find themselves in a more stable position where the result does not affect them too much.

Meanwhile, the boss will be very pleased to have carried on with his strong run of form and at least not dropped all three points in the game.