Manchester United triumphed over Everton but the meeting at Goodison Park featured off-the-pitch and on-the-pitch controversy.
Dermot Gallagher, a former Premier League referee, has offered his assessment on why Ashley Young, an Everton defender, was not sent off following VAR’s review of a contentious diving call on Sunday afternoon.
The Toffees player seemed to dangle a leg out in the penalty box shortly after halftime, with Red Devils forward Anthony Martial tripping over the leg. Referee John Brooks initially booked a puzzled Martial for simulation and indicated a free kick in Everton’s favour.
The decision was inevitably sent to Stockley Park, where Brooks was sent to the monitor and VAR chose to reverse the on-field ruling. Gallagher commented on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch: “When I initially saw it, I assumed it was a penalty. It is challenging to argue that there was no foul since he planted his leg and dangled it, failing to catch the ball. I simply don’t think there is much else you can do when you see that save impose a penalty.
“I think Martial is quite happy to go after the ball, but the leg is planted. If you dangle at leg like that, you run the risk.
Once the decision had been made, opening goalscorer Alejandro Garnacho appeared to lead protestations that if the incident was a foul, Young should be booked. The defender had already been shown a yellow card in the match and a second booking would have been a red.
Gallagher reasoned: “The referee obviously thought it was careless. It possibly is a second yellow card, but I would not say it is guaranteed and the one thing I would say is to go from a dive for one player to a red card to another is quite a spectrum to travel. I just wonder, has the referee made that much of an error?”
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