- Dermot Gallagher claims Bernardo Silva ran a massive penalty risk.
- Merlin Rohl believes Silva’s grabbing warranted a late spot-kick.
- VAR dismissed the penalty appeal because the ball was dead.
Everton were left frustrated once again during Monday’s 3‑3 draw with Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
In the 87th minute, with the score at 3‑2, City captain Bernardo Silva grappled Merlin Rohl inside the box, dragging the Everton midfielder to the ground. Referee Michael Oliver waved play on, and VAR did not intervene. It was another controversial decision that went against the Toffees and now a former Premier League referee has weighed in.
Gallagher: ‘If he gets penalised, he cannot complain’
Dermot Gallagher quoted by the Liverpool ECHO, analysed the incident and made clear his view. “I see this and the one thing that bothers me – and I’m consistent about this – if a player doesn’t look at the ball, he’s got his back to the ball at a corner, he’s only got one intention.
“Once he interlocks with another player, he runs a massive risk. If he gets penalised, he cannot complain. If the referee had given a penalty or VAR had spotted it and recommended giving a penalty, I don’t think anyone could complain.”
“The only way to stamp it out is actually to penalise the defender because if you don’t, he will take a chance forever and a day.”
Gallagher addressed the VAR explanation that the majority of the incident happened before the ball was in play. “I listened to it (VAR) and they’re saying he interlocked when the ball’s dead, he can’t give a penalty when the ball is dead, but the ball was in the air. They say the majority of the incidence happened before the ball was in play, that infers some of it happened when the ball was in play.
“I’m hard and fast about this. If a defender interlocks with an attacker with his back to the ball and holds on to the attacker throughout the move, he runs a massive risk. If he gets penalised, he cannot argue.”
Merlin Rohl’s view: ‘He was doing way too much grabbing my shirt’
Rohl, who made a rare start, spoke about the incident after the game. “To be honest, we watched the videos and he [Bernardo Silva] has been doing this a lot against other players. I thought [the second-half incident], he was doing way too much grabbing my shirt. I was trying to get away from him, to the ball, so that could have been a penalty.”
The decision not to award a penalty has added to Everton’s growing sense of injustice this season. Earlier, a clear handball at West Ham was also ignored, with multiple former referees agreeing that a spot‑kick should have been given.
David Moyes has previously voiced his frustration, saying: “It’s always rubbish you get back. You never get anything back, and it’s never what you want to hear.”
Gallagher’s verdict is significant. A former professional referee believes Everton were wronged. That will be little consolation for the Toffees, who dropped two points against the champions. But it adds weight to the argument that the officials and VAR got it wrong.
With three games remaining and European qualification still possible, although slim, every point counts. Everton will hope the next big decision goes their way.
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