Everton are handed an apology from the Premier League, as refs’ chief Mike Riley calls Frank Lampard to say sorry for denying them a penalty against Man City during the weekend.
The Toffees were left furious in their 1-0 defeat at home by Manchester City on Saturday when midfielder Rodri appeared to escape an apparent handball call as both the on-pitch officials — including referee Paul Tierney — and the video assistant referee judged it not to have handled the ball.
At the time, the Premier League said the decision was made because there was not enough conclusive evidence that the ball contacted Rodri in the ‘red zone’, the area of the arm beneath the shirt-line which constitutes a handball.
However, Speaking after the match, Everton manager Frank Lampard expressed his team’s frustration with the call.
“We’ve lost a point by a professional who can’t do his job right,” Lampard exclaimed.
“Manchester City fans and players will know they’ve got away with one,”
“The arm is out, he moves his arm to the ball, all the criteria are hit [for a handball].
“It’s a really bad day for VAR that they’ve got that wrong.”
“The referee [Paul Tierney] on the day knows it was a penalty. [But] he couldn’t see it.
“The decision is incredible, incredible that loses us the opportunity to get what we deserved. It wouldn’t have needed more than five seconds to know it was a penalty. He should have told the referee to give it or to look at it.
“They have not given that as a penalty when it strikes him on the arm, in an unnatural position. I have a three-year-old daughter at home who could tell you that was a penalty.”
Reports on Monday claimed Everton lodged a consequent formal complaint, while also asking for an apology to Lampard and his squad in the wake of the controversy.
But now Riley – the general manager of the Professional Game Match Official Limited(PGMOL) has personally called the club to apologise for his organisation’s shortcomings on Merseyside.
Everton are 17th on the log with one point outside the relegation zone.