Former Premier League referee criticises VAR after Everton v Man City penalty decision

Former Premier League referee Peter Walton believes VAR Chris Kavanagh should have helped on-field referee Paul Tierney to award Everton a penalty in their 1-0 home loss to Premier League leaders Manchester City on Saturday.

The Blues seemed set to be given the chance to cancel out Phil Foden's 82nd-minute strike when the ball hit Rodri's arm in the City box.

The home players and fans immediately called for Tierney to point to the spot.

But the referee refused to listen and his decision was backed up by VAR Kavanagh back at Stockley Park.

Walton, however, believes that was wrong.

Writing in The Times, he said: "Everton were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty against Manchester City. Rodri leaned towards the ball and it struck him on the arm, making it a deliberate handball.

"I suspect referee Paul Tierney was blind-sided, which would explain why he waved away Everton’s protests, and the VAR Chris Kavanagh should have given him an opportunity to make amends.

"Kavanagh adjudged that no clear and obvious error had been made, but there is less evidence required for an overturn when the on-field referee does not have a clear view. Perhaps there was a communication issue between Tierney and Kavanagh.

"I am still a supporter of the handball law, which was changed in 2020 to define explicitly where the arm began through the ‘T-shirt line’. Asking referees to use interpretation is dangerous as it risks inconsistency."

The decision staggered Everton manager Frank Lampard, who called it 'incompetence at best', and in the hours afterwards there was universal agreement in the football world that it should have been a spot-kick.