Howard Webb told PGMOL 'are destroying our beloved game' after VAR controversy
Jeff Stelling believes PGMOL "are destroying our beloved game" after Dominic Calvert-Lewin's red card in the FA Cup.
The Everton forward was sent off during the second half of Thursday night's game at Selhurst Park for a sliding tackle on Crystal Palace defender Nathaniel Clyne. Calvert-Lewin appeared to get the ball back with minimal contact on the former Liverpool player.
Referee Chris Kavanagh checked the pitch-side monitor for a review with VAR official Craig Pawson and decided to send Calvert-Lewin off. The England international was shocked by the controversial decision - and he wasn't the only one left in disbelief.
Peter Reid and other Everton legends have taken to X to question the referee's decision. Many Toffees fans have also expressed their anger on social media. Calvert-Lewin is now expected to miss three games due to rules around serious foul play.
"I've lost the will to live, game's gone," wrote Reid on X, while Kevin Campbell described the decision as a "disgrace". Don Hutchinson also claimed the "game's gone" on the same platform, and many Everton supporters labelled the decision a "joke".
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Stelling was among the neutrals left in disbelief. He wrote on X: "Seriously a red card for Calvert-Lewin? Does anybody honestly believe the game is better for VAR? Makes you weep how the governing bodies/PGMOL are destroying our beloved game."
Many Everton fans want the club to appeal Calvert-Lewin's red card. One claimed: "VAR has absolutely destroyed the game. None of the on-field officials deemed that even a foul. It's re-refereeing the game and not what VAR was supposed to be for. Disgrace."
It's not yet known if Everton will appeal Calvert-Lewin's red card. The official guidance defines serious foul play as: "A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was sent off for this challenge on Nathaniel Clyne (Getty Images)What did you make of Dominic Calvert-Lewin's red card? Let us know in the comments below!
"Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play."
Unsurprisingly, Dyche wasn't impressed with the dismissal. He told ITV Sport: "The slow motion shows a different picture... There's minor contact and in live time he (the referee) doesn't give anything, then they slow it down and everything looks worse."
Dyche added: "I have no clue what that (monitor) is there for. Every fan must be going, 'What is the point?' We all know the outcome, they are going to agree with everything they're being told... I'm a fan (of VAR) but we're all aware it needs tidying up.
"I thought it was getting tidied up but it seems to have stepped back a little bit. I remain a fan, but it is beginning to test my patience."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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