New VAR details confirm worst Everton fears over Man Utd penalty controversy
Mirror February 25, 2025 01:39 AM

Everton boss has seen his worst fears realised over the controversial decision not to award his team a penalty against .

Three minutes into stoppage time, referee Andrew Madley pointed to the spot after went down inside the area. looked to have been given the chance to win Saturday's clash, having been .

Madley awarded the penalty on the basis that Maguire had fouled Young, but replays showed that there was minimal contact from the international to send the Everton winger to ground. What Moyes and many others believed the penalty had been given for, however, was shirt pulls; one on Young's side and then another on his back.

In Moyes' post-match press conference, a journalist read out the Premier League's statement on the incident which read: "VAR checked the referee's call of penalty to Everton for a challenge by Maguire on Young and deemed that no foul had been committed and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with a drop ball."

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

A baffled Moyes asked: "So, did they look at the shirt pull? Did they mention the shirt pull on him?" Having been told 'no' by the same reporter, the Everton manager has now even more reason to be furious.

explain that because Madley was sent to the pitch-side monitor to review the potential foul from Maguire, the video assistant referee, Matt Donohue, couldn't unilaterally support giving the penalty for another reason, such as De Ligt tugging Young's shirt.

The VAR had to decide whether De Ligt's actions constituted a clear and obvious error from Madley, as the referee didn't award the potential foul on-field. Holding a player's shirt isn't strictly an offence, as VAR take into account how long a shirt has been held for and if the player goes to ground in a way which is commensurate to the act.

Should Everton have been awarded a penalty? Give us your verdict in the .

Donohue decided that De Ligt's holding of the shirt was 'fleeting', deeming that Young threw himself on the turf in an exaggerated way. Therefore, that specific incident didn't meet the threshold for a clear and obvious error for a penalty to Everton. Based on similar incidents and decisions this season, it would've been difficult to support a standalone review for De Ligt's action.

Although former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher told that he believes that Madley was shown the 'wrong angles', that wasn't applicable to the specific incident. In fact, the VAR showed Madley the exact angles needed for Maguire's potential foul because that was what the review was for, not De Ligt's shirt pulls.

Of course, it's highly likely that Madley did still see the two shirt pulls on screen and he didn't choose to request further angles, plus VAR hadn't instructed him to review De Ligt's potential foul. Fans could be given an insight into the decision-making process when the next 'Match Officials Mic'd Up' episode airs.

and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our .

© Copyright @2025 LIDEA. All Rights Reserved.