Credit: Inside The Game Podcast on Youtube/Imago
Credit: Inside The Game Podcast on Youtube/Imago

Michael Ball rages over 'horrendous' Everton scenes he saw vs Aston Villa

Declan Carr

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior sports journalist with experience at Sports Mole and VAVEL; Masters graduate from Liverpool John Moores University. FOCUS Breaking news, long-form analysis, and club-level insight across the Breaking Media network. THE INSIGHT Declan utilises a network of club and industry contacts to deliver verified, high-speed reporting. He provides the depth behind the headlines — from breaking news to analytical deep-dives — to ensure fans get the full story as it happens.

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Everton could not break Aston Villa down as they drew 0-0 on Saturday.

Everton were buoyed by the fact that Iliman Ndiaye recovered from a knock, but he could not inspire them to victory this time.

Beto missed several chances for Everton, and David Moyes' side could not find the winner that they deserved in a tense encounter on Merseyside.

However, the Hill Dickinson Stadium clash was not without controversy, despite being goalless.

Everton star Iliman Ndiaye looking upset.
Ndiaye returned but could not help the Blues to victory. (Credit: Imago)

Michael Ball slams Simon Hooper as Everton draw

Everton's issues with Simon Hooper are well-documented, and he did not do himself any favours in the clash against Villa.

James Tarkowski was furious with a first-half incident that went against Everton involving England star Morgan Rogers, and he made several other errors in the clash.

Michael Ball, who featured 135 times for the Blues between 1996 and 2001, has hit out over Hooper's performance in the middle.

Taking to X on 13 September, he said: "Horrendous Simon Hooper today."

David Moyes will not be keen to see Simon Hooper again

Given his record of errors against the Toffees, Moyes will not want to see Hooper appointed to Blues matches in the future.

Hooper was the official when the Toffees had a penalty ruled out against Brighton last season, and it turned out that the VAR monitor was not working when he went to check.

  • Hooper has refereed the Blues on 15 occassions
  • They have won just four of the matches that he has taken charge of
  • They have lost seven times and drawn four times when Hooper is referee

He had a backup monitor, which helped him reach a decision, but it proved to be controversial as the Blues fell to a 3-0 defeat.

He was involved in another mistake in a 2-0 loss to Manchester City in April, when Jeremy Doku took the ball out of play, but it was deemed as a corner.

Pep Guardiola's side scored from that set-piece, which should not even have gone their way, which further turned the Blues supporters against Hooper.

Moyes' side have already been affected by two controversial penalty calls this season, and Hooper's latest display will not increase their belief in the officials, they need to improve and quickly.

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