Ex FIFA referee issues strong verdict on whether Everton should have had penalty vs Arsenal

Keith Hackett Casts Verdict on Whether Everton Deserved Penalty vs Arsenal

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will be counting their lucky stars that referee Samuel Barrott believed that William Saliba’s challenge on Everton striker Thierno Barry was not worthy of a penalty and ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has offered his verdict on the second-half controversy at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Viktor Gyokeres, who has struggled to adapt to England’s top flight since his move from Sporting GP, converted from the penalty spot in the first half to reclaim their place at the summit, but it was far from a vintage Gunners performance as they struggled to produce too much from an attacking standpoint.

Arsenal’s Fate When Leading the Premier League at Christmas Season Position on December 25

Lead in Points Final Position

2023/24

1st

1 2nd 2022/23 1st 5 2nd 2007/08 1st 1 3rd 2002/03 1st 2 2nd

Especially with Pep Guardiola and Manchester City finding their feet after a tricky start to 2024/25 proceedings, the league leaders will need to up their game, or they run the risk of letting go of a seven-point lead at the top. If that were to happen, they would be one step closer to becoming England’s nearlymen.

Hackett Provides View After Everton Denied a Penalty By Barrott and VAR Arsenal’s cause (returning to the top of the table, that is) was helped by Everton defender Jake O’Brien as the Irishman needlessly handled Declan Rice’s 27th-minute corner, but the officials were not on the side of the Toffees in the 58th minute when a collision occurred between Saliba and Barry.

The Arsenal defender made contact with the Everton No.11 in an attempt to clear his lines, but cries for a spot-kick were quickly waved away by Barrott. Barry fell to the feet in pain, but those in the VAR room were not convinced that the contact wasn’t sufficient to warrant giving the home side a spot-kick.

Providing a reason as to why Everton were not awarded the chance to equalise from 12 yards out, the Premier League Match Centre took to X (formerly Twitter) to say: “The referee’s call of no penalty to Everton was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed the contact from Saliba on Barry wasn’t sufficient for a penalty.”

Despite the decision on the cusp of the hour mark, Everton’s home supporters were left absolutely incensed by the fact that Saliba, widely regarded as one of the best defenders in world football, walked away unscathed after what they felt was a clear foul at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Some even took to social media to slam the officials.

Hackett, a former FIFA referee, has also used his expertise in manning the whistle to cast his verdict – and he spoke exclusively to Football Insider about the controversial penalty incident. He claimed that Barrott and company made the correct decision by allowing play to resume as Saliba attempted to play the ball by saying: “Football is a contact sport, and I can fully understand why a penalty kick was not given. The ball is there, and that is what the Arsenal player was attempting to play. It’s not a penalty kick for me.”

Should Everton have been offered the chance to equalise from the spot, a comeback against the table-topping Arsenal was on the cards given the latter were not at the races. Instead, they now dwell slap bang in the middle of the English top division after picking up a total of 24 points from 17 matches. A share of the spoils – or even an additional three points – on Saturday evening would’ve helped them in their pursuit of advancing up the table. From an Arsenal perspective, the north Londoners are back in the position in which they started the game week (1st) with 39 points to their name. ‘Tonight, The Decisions Didn’t Go’ – David Moyes Fumes Post-Match Following the full-time whistle, Everton boss David Moyes swarmed towards Barrott and his fellow officials as a way of getting his point across – and the Scot was asked about his post-match conversation during his interview with Sky Sports. “I’d like to [tell you], but I’d probably be fined in some ways,” Moyes said. “You need to find ways at Sky to talk to referees or don’t bother asking me.”

It was a day where just a lot of things didn’t quite suit and go our way. There were quite a few people going down injured. The referee was blowing up for them. It’s a different football club here. We play tough. We expect our referees to do the same.”

Moyes, when asked about Barrott’s decision not to give a penalty for the aforementioned collision between Barry and Saliba, questioned the notion that there was insufficient contact. “I think they said it was insignificant contact. Well, we’ll have to see a few others and see if they’re right. Sometimes you need some decisions to go for you. Tonight the decisions didn’t go,” the 62-year-old told Match of the Day.