Everton wrongly denied handball penalty at West Ham - panel
Everton should have had a penalty at West Ham for handball by Mateus Fernandes, Premier League incidents panel says.
David Moyes was "amazed" that his Everton side did not get a penalty for handball at West Ham [Getty Images] Everton should have been awarded a penalty in the 2-1 defeat at West Ham for handball by Mateus Fernandes, the Premier League's key match incidents panel has ruled. David Moyes' side trailed 1-0 in the 84th minute when the Hammers midfielder 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. " Referee Stuart Attwell did not spot the touch and awarded a goal-kick to West Ham. The video assistant referee (VAR), Michael Salisbury, chose not to intervene as Fernandes "accidentally handled the ball while grappling with an opponent".
But the panel disagreed, voting 4:1 that it was an error by both the referee and the VAR. It was felt it "was a non-footballing action and a handball offence, therefore, a penalty should have been awarded". The panel unanimously agreed with the referee and VAR that there should not have been a penalty for Jordan Pickford's 50th-minute challenge on Taty Castellanos.
Everton did equalise a couple of minutes later through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, but Callum Wilson scored a winner for the Hammers in stoppage time. It is the second VAR error that Everton have suffered this season, both penalties that should have been awarded in one-goal defeats. The Toffees should also have been given a spot-kick in a 1-0 loss to Arsenal in December for a William Saliba foul on Barry.