Former referee Dermot Gallagher has admitted the match officials got one wrong with Kai Havertz’s penalty appeal against Everton, insisting it should have been a spot-kick.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch show, former referee Dermot Gallagher assessed Arsenal’s penalty appeal against Everton.
Kai Havertz was brought down by Michael Keane as he closed in on goal, with replays showing the Everton defender stood on the Arsenal forward’s heel.
Though Gallagher is often quick to defend his fellow officials, on this occasion he admitted that both the referee and the VAR officials made the wrong call.
“I thought it was a penalty,” Gallagher said. “I was a forward and I alluded to this before, that’s what I was taught – push the ball there, step across (the defender), he’s out the game, clips his heel.
“I wonder if they were looking at the upper body, and think ‘well, there’s not enough for a foul there’. But I think it’s a foul, because I think he steps on his heel.
“If I was the forward, and you were the ref, the first thing I’d say is ‘why would I go down?’ Why would I need to go down, because I’m away?”
Gallagher’s assessment fits with what many fans were assuming must have happened. If the referee and VAR only looked at the upper-body clash, it makes sense that they might not think it was enough for a penalty.
The problem is that they seemingly missed the actual offence, with Keane standing on Havertz’s heel. Once you spot that contact, there’s surely no decision you can make other than to give the penalty.
Another ex-ref in Keith Hackett even suggested Keane should have been shown a red card for the foul, given the nature of the goalscoring opportunity Havertz was denied.
“The offence on Havertz should have resulted in a penalty kick and, because it’s denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity, a red card,” Hackett said.
“The referee fails to make a decision, he’s hoping that a life belt is going to be thrown by VAR to get him to go the screen to have another look.
“But it doesn’t happen. Nothing happens. The offence is complete ignored. It’s just like the Chuckle Brothers – to me, to you, to me, to you.”
Fortunately for Arsenal, they didn’t end up relying on the penalty to secure the three points. The emotions around the club would be very different right now if the game had ended 0-0.