Everton Boss David Moyes Slams Sir Alex Ferguson and VAR After Controversial Manchester United Clash
The Premier League witnessed yet another controversy as Everton manager David Moyes launched a scathing attack on both Sir Alex Ferguson and the VAR system following his team’s clash against Manchester United. Furious over a denied penalty, Moyes did not hold back in his criticism, questioning the integrity of the officiating and accusing United of benefiting from favoritism.
Speaking live on air, football insider Fabrizio Romano reported that Moyes’ frustration reached boiling point as he stated, “I could see it in Sir Alex Ferguson’s smile from the stands—this match was fixed! How was that not given as a penalty against Young? The referee must explain this disgraceful decision! Manchester United never change—they are always favored and constantly escape punishment. This is exactly why people accuse them of being a club that benefits from unfair decisions. Football should be about fairness, not blatant manipulation.”
The match itself was a high-octane battle, with Everton pushing Manchester United to their limits. One of the defining moments came when Everton’s Beto managed to score following a dramatic sequence of events in the penalty box. However, it was not without scrutiny, as VAR took over three minutes to review the goal before confirming its validity.
Beto’s goal, his fifth in four matches, came after a loose ball situation where he reacted quickest to fire past Andre Onana into the roof of the net. VAR officials meticulously analyzed the play, investigating possible offside infringements and whether any secondary touches played a role in the goal’s legitimacy.
Despite Everton’s appeals for a penalty earlier in the match, the biggest controversy centered on whether Beto was offside before finding the net. The review focused on three key moments: his initial position, potential involvement of another Everton player after Abdoulaye Doucoure’s header, and whether he had remained onside by the time the ball reached him.
After a tense wait, the Premier League’s Match Centre issued a statement backing the decision: “The referee’s original decision to award the goal was checked and confirmed by VAR, as no offside offense was committed by either Lindstrom or Beto.”
Everton fans erupted in celebration as Beto etched his name into the club’s history books, becoming the first Everton player to score in four consecutive league matches since Richarlison in March 2021. His goal was not the only significant moment of the game, as Doucoure later doubled Everton’s lead.
Jesper Lindstrom played a crucial role in the buildup to Doucoure’s goal, setting up Jack Harrison for an initial strike that was parried away before Doucoure calmly slotted home the rebound. This goal only added to Manchester United’s struggles as they appeared out of sorts throughout the encounter.
United, now under the management of Ruben Amorim, seemed to lack cohesion as Everton outworked them in all departments. With key players missing due to injuries, United’s form has become a growing concern. The defeat leaves them four points behind Everton in the Premier League standings, raising questions about their ability to secure European football next season.
Amorim’s tactical decisions, particularly his choice to bench Alejandro Garnacho in favor of a two-striker system with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, did not yield the desired results. Despite their attacking firepower, United found themselves repeatedly frustrated by Everton’s defensive resilience, led by Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski.
While Everton fans basked in the glory of their victory, the post-match discussion was dominated by Moyes’ remarks about Manchester United’s alleged favoritism. The Everton boss doubled down on his claims, suggesting that his team had been denied a fair chance by the officials.
United’s struggles have put more pressure on Amorim, who now faces mounting scrutiny over his squad’s performances. The loss highlights deeper issues at the club, ranging from tactical inconsistencies to player absences due to injuries.
As the dust settles, the debate surrounding VAR’s role in the Premier League continues to rage. While the system was implemented to improve fairness and accuracy in officiating, its frequent controversies have only added to the drama of the English top flight.
For now, Everton will celebrate their well-earned victory, while Manchester United will have to regroup quickly to avoid further setbacks in what is shaping up to be a challenging season. Meanwhile, Moyes’ fiery comments will undoubtedly spark further discussions on the influence of VAR and the perceived favoritism toward certain clubs.
That’s an explosive reaction from David Moyes, and his comments about Sir Alex Ferguson and VAR are bound to spark major debate. Calling the match “fixed” and accusing United of favoritism is a huge claim—especially considering how often VAR decisions have been criticized across the league, not just in United’s favor.
Everton fans will back Moyes, but others might argue that controversial calls happen to every team. Amorim, on the other hand, has bigger problems to solve—his tactical approach didn’t work, and United looked out of sorts for much of the game.
Do you think Moyes’ claims hold any weight, or is this just frustration boiling over? And where does this leave Amorim as he tries to turn things around?
