Premier League accusation made after announcement on controversial James Tarkowski footage
Keith Hackett disagrees with the Premier League's assessment of James Tarkowski's controversy in Everton's draw with Manchester United.
The Toffees twice fought back to draw 2-2 with the Red Devils at Hill Dickinson Stadium earlier this month.
Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko twice put Michael Carrick's side ahead, only for goals from Tyrique George and Ainsley Maitland-Niles to secure a point.
However, it was a game not without its contentious moments and Everton centre-back Tarkowski was at the heart of it.
Matheus Cunha was convinced he should have had a penalty when Tarkowski made a challenge on him after a marauding Marcus Rashford run.
On Wednesday, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel (KMI) agreed with that the decision was correct, but Hackett is not convinced.
What did the Premier League say about James Tarkowski controversy?
At the time, referee John Brooks and his VAR officials decided there was no case for Tarkowski to answer.
It was deemed that Tarkowski had got clean contact on the ball, and thus it was a fair challenge on Cunha.
In their KMI report, the Premier League confirmed they felt that Brooks and the officials were right in their assessment.
However, speaking exclusively to Goodison News, Hackett disagreed and felt that a penalty should have been awarded and Tarkowski booked.
He said: "There is a clear lack of the understanding of law here. The defender made his challenge through the legs of his opponent making contact with him.
"This in law is deemed a careless challenge. To clarify the law states: 'Careless is when a player shows a lack of attention or consideration when making a challenge or acts without precaution. No disciplinary sanction is needed.'
"Looking at replays, Tarkowski makes contact with Cunha first before playing the ball.
"That’s a foul and a penalty kick should have been the result, with Tarkowski receiving a yellow card."
A subjective call on Everton controversy
If anything, this just shows why VAR is still so contentious.
It is clearly a subjective call, which thankfully went in Everton's favour on this occasion.
But it would have surprised absolutely no one if a penalty had been awarded, VAR agreed, and the Premier League also backed that decision.
Tarkowski does get a lot of the ball, so you can see why Brooks did not give it.
Did he take a lot of Cunha to do so? Well, even if he did, Brooks and the officials didn't think so, and ultimately that's all matters.