The Premier League revises VAR statement following Man United’s last-minute penalty controversy against Everton.

The Premier League was compelled to amend its statement after Everton was denied a late penalty against Manchester United at Goodison Park.

United struggled for much of the match, particularly in a poor first half where Everton took a two-goal lead through Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure. However, the momentum shifted in the second half when Bruno Fernandes scored a stunning free-kick in the 72nd minute. United then appeared to salvage a point when Manuel Ugarte fired in a long-range strike.

In stoppage time, United’s efforts were nearly undone when Andy Madley awarded Everton a penalty following a challenge from Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire on Ashley Young. But VAR official Matt Donohue intervened, advising Madley to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.

After assessing multiple angles, Madley overturned his initial decision, allowing United to hold onto a draw. The final whistle was met with boos from Everton fans, with Young questioning Madley’s change of heart.

The Premier League Match Centre later explained: “VAR reviewed the referee’s decision to award Everton a penalty for a challenge by Maguire on Young, determined no foul had occurred, and recommended an on-field review. The referee subsequently overturned the decision, and play resumed with an indirect free-kick.”

However, just three minutes after the statement was released, the Premier League had to revise it due to an error. The corrected version stated: “VAR reviewed the referee’s decision to award Everton a penalty for a challenge by Maguire on Young, determined no foul had occurred, and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the decision, and play restarted with a drop ball.”

While the correction did not significantly impact the outcome, it clarified that United was not awarded a free-kick following the overturned decision.
In a recent Premier League match at Goodison Park, Manchester United managed a 2-2 draw against Everton, a game marked by significant controversy in its final moments. Everton initially took a commanding lead with goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure. Manchester United responded in the second half, with Bruno Fernandes netting a free-kick in the 72nd minute and Manuel Ugarte equalizing with a long-range effort.

The match’s most contentious moment occurred during stoppage time when referee Andy Madley awarded Everton a penalty after a challenge involving Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire on Ashley Young. However, VAR official Matt Donohue advised Madley to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. Upon review, Madley overturned his initial decision, leading to a drop ball rather than a penalty kick. This reversal was met with frustration from Everton fans and players, with Ashley Young expressing confusion over the change.

The Premier League’s Match Centre initially released a statement explaining the decision: “VAR reviewed the referee’s decision to award Everton a penalty for a challenge by Maguire on Young, determined no foul had occurred, and recommended an on-field review. The referee subsequently overturned the decision, and play resumed with an indirect free-kick.” Shortly thereafter, this was corrected to: “VAR reviewed the referee’s decision to award Everton a penalty for a challenge by Maguire on Young, determined no foul had occurred, and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the decision, and play restarted with a drop ball.” This clarification indicated that play resumed with a drop ball, not an indirect free-kick, after the penalty decision was overturned.

Post-match reactions highlighted differing opinions on the incident. Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim described the penalty as “soft,” suggesting the overturn was justified. Conversely, Everton manager David Moyes expressed surprise at the reversal, noting, “I thought the referee made the correct decision at the time and he should stick with it.” Moyes also questioned the VAR process, emphasizing the need for consistency in decision-making.

This incident has reignited discussions about VAR’s role in football, with some experts calling for a review of its implementation to ensure clarity and fairness in officiating.