Everton face an uphill battle to qualify for Europe after four games without a win, but it has not entirely been the fault of the Toffees.
David Moyes will argue his side deserved a penalty in the 3-3 draw against Manchester City after Bernardo Silva dragged Merlin Rohl down inside the box, while questions were also asked in regards to where Michael Oliver found the additional time which saw Jeremy Doku equalise in the 97th minute.
There was controversy during the 2-1 defeat at West Ham as well, after Mateus Fernandes escaped unpunished despite punching the ball away from Thierno Barry inside the box.
The official Premier League Match Centre argued that the West Ham No.18 did it accidentally – how that then makes it acceptable is a mystery – and the KMI (Key Match Incidents) panel have now decided it was a mistake not to award Everton a penalty.
Another penalty decision not going in Everton’s favour? 🫣
Bernardo Silva wasn't even looking at the ball 🤷♂️
PGMOL left with egg on their face as KMI decide they were wrong
The KMI panel – which is independent to the Premier League – have now voted four to one that Everton should have been awarded a penalty after the handball from Fernandes.
The verdict is that it “was a non-footballing action and a handball offence, therefore, a penalty should have been awarded” by Stuart Attwell, if not Michael Salisbury who was in the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) booth.
It now means Everton have now been the subject of two incorrect decisions this season, according to the KMI panel.
Who makes up the KMI panel?
- One from the Premier League
- One from PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited)
- Three former players or coaches
Back in December after the 1-0 loss against Arsenal, Everton fans felt William Saliba should have conceded a penalty for a foul on Thierno Barry. The KMI panel agreed. To make matters worse, the aforementioned Salisbury was again on VAR duty that day.
Everton also remain the only side in the Premier League not to have a VAR overturn go in their favour this season.
These independent panels do little but add salt in the wounds weeks after a dodgy decision, and they effectively serve no purpose if changes aren’t being made to the PGMOL despite plenty of mistakes taking place.
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Moyes said the PGMOL gave a “rubbish” response to Everton’s complaint about the Fernandes handball, and the Glaswegian will be equally as disgusted by this new verdict from the KMI panel.
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