Credit: Imago

Max Wilkins

Fri 28 February 2025 7:10, UK

Everton have hit a great run of form under David Moyes but that hasn’t been without its controversy.

Last time out, the Toffees came back from behind to secure a hard-fought draw against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.

A Jake O’Brien diving header was enough to take a point back to Goodison Park and make it seven unbeaten since Moyes made his return to Goodison Park at the start of January.

This period of positive results has been done despite some strange refereeing calls and now one has been singled out for its impact on the game as a whole.

Ian Ladyman slams VAR decision in Everton v Manchester United

Arguably the Toffees’ most controversial moment of the campaign came against Ruben Amorim’s side in a 2-2 draw on Merseyside.

Despite goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure, the Red Devils managed to get back on level terms before Ashley Young went down in the area.

It appeared clear that both Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt had hold of the Englishman, leaving the referee with a decision to make.

Match official Andy Madley pointed for a spot kick before the Stockley Park team recommended a review and the decision was ultimately overturned.

This has left Ladyman baffled in his Scottish Daily Mail column (28 February, page 80), taking aim at the referee and VAR for ruining the game we all know and love.

He said: “Everton’s Ashley Young had his shirt pulled by two Manchester United defenders, but referee Andy Madley only saw one of the offences in real time. It was, as it turned out, the weaker of the two tugs. Harry Maguire was not the real culprit. That was Matthijs de Ligt, who had used both hands.

“But Madley had given a penalty solely against Maguire, so was only shown that angle by the VAR officials. He reversed his decision without being offered the chance to see De Ligt’s offence. Had he been shown that freeze frame, he in all likelihood would have stuck with his original call.

“Albeit for a different reason. Are you with me? Possibly not. And that sums up yet another dismal episode in the life of a system that continues to fail and embarrass the beautiful game.”

Everton must move on from Young incident

There is no doubt that the decision at Goodison Park against the 39-year-old was infuriating and bizarre.

No supporter can truly understand why Young was adjudged not to have been fouled despite being grabbed by two defenders inside the box.

With that being said, the game is now nearly a week gone and there isn’t going to be any sort of change to the decision so the Toffees have to move on now.

With clashes against the likes of Wolves, West Ham and Liverpool coming up, there is plenty to work towards rather than focusing on one frustrating refereeing call.

Moyes will know that and will have already pushed any feelings about the call to the back of his mind but it is clearly still grating on supporters in L4.