Jamie Carragher has said one Everton player got away with something during the Toffees’ Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Sean Dyche’s men secured a vital three points thanks to long-range strikes from Dwight McNeil and Idrissa Gana Gueye.
However, the match wasn’t short of controversy, with the visitors aggrieved over three penalty decisions going against them.
Ashley Young was at the heart of the drama. The 38-year-old was involved in all three incidents. However, VAR opted not to intervene.
Jamie Carragher drops verdict on Everton VAR drama v Nottingham Forest
Forest initially thought the veteran defender had fouled Gio Reyna in the box midway through the first half. However, the claim was waved away after a VAR check.
The visitors also felt they should’ve had a spot kick after the former Aston Villa man appeared to handle Chris Wood’s attempted cross.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ coverage at half-time, Carragher was adamant Nuno Espirito Santo’s side should have been awarded a penalty.
‘No, it’s a penalty. You can talk about close proximity but his arm’s out from his body. He’s making himself bigger, and the ball has just fallen to Chris Wood in the six-yard box. Ashley Young is very lucky, and I think we will be hearing from Mark Clattenburg after the game.”
Nottingham Forest haven’t take Everton VAR controversy well
Unsurprisingly, Forest haven’t taken the decisions well.
Immediately after the fixture, the City Ground club released a remarkable statement claiming the VAR operator was a Luton Town fan.
It read: “Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept.
“We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times. NFFC will now consider its options.”
It’s an astonishing statement and a huge claim for a Premier League club to make. Without substantiation, Forest could find themselves in a world of trouble.
From an outside perspective, it’s not a good look. Decisions come and go; Forest should accept what has happened and move on. Insinuating that they’ve been targeted is absolutely obscene.