‘What is the point’ – Sean Dyche blasts VAR penalty decision in Everton defeat to Brighton

Sean Dyche cut a frustrated figure after Everton had a penalty overturned by VAR at a crucial point of their 3-0 home loss to Brighton & Hove Albion

Sean Dyche took aim at the implementation of VAR after Everton had a penalty controversially overturned in their 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park in their Premier League opener.

The Blues started the second half with intensity and appeared to be rewarded for that effort when referee Simon Hooper pointed to the spot two minutes after the restart when Dominic Calvert-Lewin was brought down by Lewis Dunk.

But VAR Darren England urged Hooper to revisit his decision and it was ultimately changed.

The incident deprived Everton of a golden opportunity to equalise at a crucial moment in the match.

For Dyche, the process that unfolded ripped apart the guidance he said he had been given during pre-season, advice that suggested there would be a high threshold for interference with an on-pitch decision.

The Blues said: “I can’t really work it out. We go to these meetings and we have just been told the bar is going to be incredibly high now for the referee to make a decision.

“He makes a clear decision, he has a perfect viewing point, and lo-and-behold is called over to overturn the decision.

“What is the point in having that high bar then? Because when you look back, apparently one of the official lines is that Dom’s foot lands on one of their players.

“For one, obviously he doesn’t want to put his foot on their player’s foot, and their player is out of control on the floor and drags his foot along with the top of his foot and the bottom of Dom’s so that clearly pulls him to the ground. What is a pen then?

“That is contact in the box and we have all seen the tiniest – someone treads on a toe and they give a penalty. So I think we are all confused by it.

“There is no reason for confusion. If he lets the referee give that, I don’t there are too many complaints.”

After the call, the Premier League Match Centre said: “The referee awarded a penalty to Everton for a foul by Dunk on Calvert-Lewin. The VAR recommended an on-field review as he deemed Calvert-Lewin’s foot landed on Dunk’s foot and there was no foul. The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with a drop ball.”

There were further questions over how that decision was reached, with images showing the pitchside monitor Hooper was supposed to review his call was not working.

The Premier League said the referee had access to a back-up monitor and therefore did watch the incident back before reaching his final decision.