Everton faced Manchester United at Goodison Park on Saturday, February 22, 2025, where the match concluded with a thrilling 2-2 draw. The game was marred by controversy as it featured yet another VAR incident surrounding Everton’s late penalty appeal.
The Toffees initially took control of the match with two first-half goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure. Everton appeared set to secure the victory, but Manchester United struck back with second-half goals from Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte, thwarting Everton’s win.
The climax of the match came deep in stoppage time, when Everton's Ashley Young was felled inside the box after tussling with United defenders Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt. Referee Andy Madley pointed to the penalty spot, but after consulting with VAR, he reversed his call. Many Everton fans were left furious, feeling they had been robbed of a deserved chance to win.
David Moyes, Everton's manager, expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision, stating, "I think he should have stuck with his original decision. If there's clear and obvious evidence against it, then VAR should intervene, but I didn’t see it.” He emphasized the importance of consistency from match officials and hoped for greater resolve from referees, advocating for them to uphold their initial judgments when they deem them correct.
The Premier League clarified the decision, stating, "VAR checked the referee’s call for the foul and deemed no foul had been committed, leading to the recommendation for Madley to review the incident on-field." This led to much debate among football analysts and fans alike, with differing opinions about the nature of Young’s fall and the contact from both defenders.
Critics of the VAR decision highlighted the peculiarities of Young's actions, pointing out incidents from the past when he had been accused of exaggeration. Even Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim labeled the situation as "a soft penalty,” indicating his belief the contact did not warrant such severe punishment.
Pundits were divided on the call. Former Manchester United players like Rio Ferdinand expressed surprise at the penalty not being awarded, saying, "The contact is there. When you put your hands on someone, you give the referee something to work with.” Conversely, others like Theo Walcott stood by the ref's decision, saying, “Naturally, when you’re challenged, you don’t fall like he did.”
The initial VAR review seemed to focus primarily on Maguire’s contact with Young, overlooking De Ligt's earlier shirt pull. Moyes questioned whether the video officials had thoroughly assessed both players' actions. He remarked, “It looked to me as though the shirt pull was enough,” reflecting the growing frustration of many onlookers who feel the officiators often miss clear fouls.
With two sides vying for three points, both clubs have been under significant pressures this season; United, under Amorim's leadership, are struggling near the middle of the table, far from their championship aspirations. Despite the struggles, United managed to claw back after two goals conceded, echoing the resilience the team hopes to build upon moving forward.
Young’s reputation also adds another layer to the story, as his susceptibility to going down easily where contact is concerned has followed him throughout his career. Even Alex Ferguson previously noted the risk of Young getting labeled as someone who goes down too easily, which could impact his credibility during such pivotal calls.
The match ended with both teams split on points yet again, leaving Everton with some pride from their performance and Manchester United relieved to salvage a draw. This match and its controversial calls highlight not just the heated rivalry between the clubs but also the ever-present debates surrounding officiation and the VAR system's implementation. Fans are left pondering—was the VAR call justified, or should the original penalty decision have stood?
So, as Everton prepare to face Brentford next, this match will inevitably remain etched not only for the goals scored but the decisions made and the heated discussions sure to follow. Both clubs hope to take the lessons from this match and push for validation on the pitch moving onwards.