- Everton have been denied three times this season due to wrong VAR calls
- Merlin Rohl was grappled by Silva, but VAR didn’t intervene.
- Man City admission is third after Arsenal and West Ham.
Everton have been on the wrong end of VAR decisions all season. The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel has confirmed three more video assistant referee errors, taking the total this season to 23. Among them is Everton’s penalty claim during the 3-3 draw with Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The panel unanimously agreed with David Moyes that a spot‑kick should have been given in the game. It is the third time this season the Toffees have been wrongly denied a penalty through video review, the others being in a 1-0 home loss to Arsenal and a 2-1 defeat at West Ham.
Remarkably, Everton are the only team not to have received a single VAR intervention in their favour this season.
Bernado Silva’s grapple on Rohl
The thrilling 3-3 draw with Manchester City will be remembered for Jeremy Doku’s 97th‑minute equaliser, a quick brace from Thierno Barry and a bullet header from Jake O’Brien that put Everton 3-1 up. But in the 87th minute, with the score at 3-2, City captain Bernardo Silva grappled Merlin Rohl inside the box, dragging the Everton midfielder to the ground. Referee Michael Oliver waved play on and VAR did not intervene.
The KMI panel reviewed the incident. All five members agreed with Moyes, stating: “There is a clear, sustained holding offence which continues as the corner is taken and the ball comes into play.”
Rohl, who was making a rare start, was clear about what happened. “To be honest, we watched the videos and he [Bernardo Silva] has been doing this a lot against other players. I thought he was doing way too much grabbing my shirt. I was trying to get away from him, to the ball, so that could have been a penalty.”
Moyes’ fury and the cost to Everton
David Moyes was fuming after the game. “I’ve seen it, I’ve had a look. If that doesn’t get given as a penalty then it’s an absolute free-for-all from now on. I might have to start coaching my defenders how to defend differently completely. It looks like now you’re able to sort of grapple and wrestle on the ground if you want.”
The decision not to award a penalty may have cost Everton two vital points. With the Toffees still chasing European qualification, every point counts. The non‑call at West Ham earlier in the season also robbed them of a potential point.
Now, with two games remaining, the margin for error is gone. The KMI panel’s admission is little consolation. Everton have been robbed three times. The damage is done. But at least the truth is finally out even if it comes too late to change anything.
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