Everton may have only managed to hold Newcastle United to a 0-0 draw last night, but the match was far from the dull affair that such a scoreline suggests.
In fact, there was everything but a goal within the clash, involving penalty drama, Anthony Gordon’s continued struggles, countless missed chances and, as always, VAR controversy.
It should surprise no one that it is the latter which remains the dominant narrative thus far, with it being Everton’s penalty shout that is drawing the most furore.
After all, there is a debate raging over whether it deserved to be given, with the Magpies’ alleged perpetrator Dan Burn giving his thoughts on the penalty claim.
The Premier League were quick to release their justifications, but it has not gone down as well as they might have hoped.
Premier League release Everton penalty VAR statement
In fact, many have rushed to lambast the tweet, which lazily offers an explanation for why Craig Pawson, and those watching on in Stockley Park, came to their conclusion of no penalty.
It read: ‘The referee’s call of no penalty for the challenge between Calvert-Lewin and Burn is checked and confirmed by VAR – deeming that Calvert-Lewin kicked the back of Burn’s leg.’
TalkSPORT pundit and former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara was one of the first and most high-profile to offer his thoughts on these claims, and pulled no punches in his assessment,
He would respond by simply writing: ‘This is one of the worst statements I’ve ever read.’
Everton manager Sean Dyche was left similarly baffled too, wondering why their protestations did not see the call even checked by referee Craig Pawson.
Goodison Park was left in the dark over both penalty claims
What is most frustrating about this whole ordeal, and particularly the penalty awarded to Newcastle United, was how hopelessly in the dark it left those within Goodison Park.
Football is, and should always be for the fans.
However, those who were at the match were given little to no explanation, with this thinly veiled statement the second that had flashed up on the Goodison Park screens to much frustration.
Ironically, this second statement was not the worst of the two, with the first claiming that Newcastle United had been given a spot kick for a ‘non-footballing action’.
Upon watching the incident back at home, it’s clear why a penalty was given, but at the time it felt as though the hosts had been cheated by a random and unexplained call.
VAR is not an entity that inspires trust, so for those inside the ground, it was hard to feel like the right decision had been made. It’s now clearer than ever that more transparency needs to be given to those inside the ground, but the likelihood of that happening anytime soon seems low.
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