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Everton manager David Moyes has expressed frustration over the video assistant referee (VAR) overturning a late penalty decision in his team’s favor against Manchester United. The match ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, but Everton believed they had a chance to secure victory when referee Andrew Madley awarded a penalty in stoppage time.
Controversial Penalty Overturn
In the 94th minute, Ashley Young went down in the box following what appeared to be a shirt pull by United’s Matthijs de Ligt, with Harry Maguire also nearby. However, after a VAR review, Madley was advised to check the pitchside monitor and ultimately overturned his original decision.
Moyes was left unimpressed with the intervention, stating:
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“If it’s absolutely clear and obvious, he should go to the screen, but I didn’t see that – he pulled his jersey. I thought the referee made the correct decision at the time and he should have stuck with it.”
Mixed Reactions from Managers and Pundits
The Premier League Match Centre explained that VAR reviewed the challenge by Maguire on Young and determined no foul had been committed, leading to the overturned decision and a drop-ball restart.
When asked about the ruling, Moyes questioned VAR’s evaluation:
“Did they look at the shirt pull? They only mentioned what they needed to, not the pull? It looked to me like that was enough.”
Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim saw things differently:
“I think it was a soft touch from what I saw. It was a soft penalty.”
Debate Among Pundits
The decision sparked debate among football experts. Former Everton winger Theo Walcott supported the reversal:
“I totally agree with the referee; I don’t think that was a penalty.”
However, ex-United defender Rio Ferdinand saw it differently:
“I was surprised it wasn’t given. When you put your hands on someone, you give the referee a decision to make.”
Similarly, Ally McCoist weighed in:
“I can see why he’s not given it, but I would have. There was enough of a tug on Young.”
Everton Fans Furious with the Decision
Everton supporters voiced their frustration, loudly jeering referee Madley as he exited the pitch at full-time. With controversy surrounding VAR’s role in penalty decisions growing, Moyes’ comments reflect the ongoing debate about whether referees should have the final say without technological interference. – BBC