Critical Late Drama: Everton’s Penalty Decision Sparks Controversy
Manchester United fans collectively exhaled with relief when the last-minute penalty awarded to Everton was overturned, but a significant question lingers: Did the officials overlook Matthijs de Ligt’s apparent shirt pull on Ashley Young? This incident unfolded dramatically during a tense moment in the match, as Young went down within the United penalty area after pressure from both De Ligt and Harry Maguire. Initially, referee Madley pointed to the penalty spot, igniting hopes for an Everton score. However, VAR official Matt Donohue intervened, sending Madley to the pitchside monitor for a closer examination of his decision.
As Young fell to the ground, it seemed that De Ligt had indeed tugged on his shirt in an attempt to challenge for a loose ball, which initiated Young’s dramatic fall. Maguire’s subsequent contact with Young added to the confusion surrounding the incident. The question remains whether the officials properly assessed all aspects of the challenge, particularly De Ligt’s actions that may have warranted a foul.
During the VAR review, it became evident that the primary concern for Madley was whether Maguire’s contact constituted a foul against Young. This perspective was supported by a statement from the Premier League Match Centre, which later shared on social media that “VAR checked the referee’s call of penalty to Everton for a challenge by Maguire on Young and deemed that no foul had been committed and recommended an on-field review.” Ultimately, the referee overturned the original penalty call, leading to a restart with an indirect free-kick for United. Notably, there was no mention or consideration of De Ligt’s shirt pull in this deliberation.
David Moyes Weighs In: Acknowledges the Shirt Pull Controversy
Everton manager David Moyes expressed his views regarding the pitchside review, particularly noting that the focus seemed to be on Maguire’s actions rather than De Ligt’s shirt pull. He stated, “So did they look at the shirt pull? So they only mentioned the bit they needed to?” This comment underscores the ongoing debate about the thoroughness of VAR reviews in high-stakes situations. Moyes continued, “It looked to me as though the shirt pull was enough. I can only tell you what I have seen. I didn’t know what you just told me.” He further emphasized that he believed the referee made the correct call initially and should have maintained his decision. “I think everybody who probably watches football wants to see a referee who says, ‘no, I’ll stick with what I’ve done’. I just didn’t think what we saw was clear and obvious that he should have been sent to the screen,” he added, indicating his discontent with the VAR process. Moyes concluded by expressing uncertainty about who should take responsibility for the decision, suggesting that in his opinion, VAR should not have intervened.
Manchester United’s head coach Ruben Amorim also weighed in, telling TNT Sports: “It was a soft touch from what I saw. I think it was a soft penalty; it was clear.” This highlights the contrasting views on the incident, which has become a focal point of discussion among fans and analysts alike.
