Premier League referees’ chief Howard Webb has admitted that Everton should have been awarded a penalty in the 2-1 defeat at West Ham last month.
David Moyes’ side trailed 1-0 in the 84th minute when Hammers midfielder Mateus Fernandes touched the ball with his hand during a tussle with Thierno Barry.
“He punched the ball,” Moyes said after the game. “It would have been harsh, but I’m amazed they haven’t given it.”
The video assistant referee, Michael Salisbury, chose not to intervene as Fernandes “accidentally handled the ball while grappling with an opponent”.
But Webb has said that the VAR made a mistake and should have advised a spot kick.
“From the outset, I want to say we think a penalty should’ve been awarded here against Fernandes,” Webb said on Match Officials Mic’d Up.
“However, I don’t think he really meant to deliberately handle the ball.
“He doesn’t make himself unnaturally bigger here. He moves his arm forward. I think he’s probably trying to prevent the attacker from turning him. But in doing that, he kind of bats the ball away.
“He can’t even see the ball, but Fernandes knows more or less where the ball is, and it’s a deliberate action with his arm, probably not to handle the ball, but to do something.
“And therefore, I think we’ve given Fernandes way too much benefit of the doubt here.
“In this situation, a penalty would’ve been the right outcome.”