- Everton face more officiating heartbreak as a clear handball goes completely unpunished.
- Opposition managers and refereeing experts agree that Everton were denied a blatant penalty.
- Shocking statistics reveal Everton receive fewer penalties than clubs in lower divisions do.
Everton’s recent 2-1 defeat at West Ham has reignited a long-standing frustration among Evertonians:
Why can’t the Toffees get a penalty?
As has been the case for several seasons, Everton continue to find themselves on the wrong side of pivotal refereeing decisions.
The London Stadium controversy: Fernandes vs. Barry
It happened again on Saturday. During a crucial moment at the London Stadium, Mateus Fernandes appeared to swat the ball out of play with his hand while grappling with Tierno Barry in the box.
The contact was clear. The travelling Evertonians roared in anticipation. Yet, the whistle from Stuart Attwell never came, and VAR Michael Salisbury declined to intervene. To rub salt into the wound, Stuart Attwell didn’t even award the Toffee’s a corner for the “clearance.”
Unbiased verdict: When rivals and experts agree
Perhaps the most damning evidence of the injustice came from outside the club. West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo admitted he was “scared” when asked about the incident—a rare admission of a lucky break by an opposition manager.
Even perennial referee defender, Dermot Gallagher weighed in, stating: “I think it’s a penalty…I think he’s handled the ball.”
Pattern of Injustice
For Evertonians, there is a depressing sense of familiarity here. A glaring lack of consistency from officials has defined the 2025/26 campaign.
- Leeds United (Away): The referee gave questionable handball against James Tarkowski, allowing Leeds to nick a 1-0 win.
- Burnley (Away): A near-identical handball by Jaiden Anthony was dismissed by VAR, despite furious protests.
- Arsenal (Home): William Saliba kicked Thierno Barry in the box, yet the referee gave no foul. The Premier League’s own Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel later confirmed that both the referee and VAR were mistaken.
Damning numbers
The data over the last three seasons is startling. Everton’s penalty award rate is statistically one of the lowest of any side regularly playing in the top flight.
| Season | Penalties Awarded |
| 2025/26 | 2 |
| 2024/25 | 2 |
| 2023/24 | 3 |
| Total | 7 |
The Leeds comparison
Over the last three seasons, Everton have received the same number of Premier League penalties as Leeds United—despite Leeds spending two of those seasons in the Championship.
Angus Kinnear demands answers
Chief executive Angus Kinnear has now formally contacted the PGMOL to raise concerns over officiating consistency. Supported by an open letter from the Everton Fans Forum, the club is demanding a level playing field.
The message is simple: rules applied at one end of the pitch must be identical to those at the other. Until that happens, the sense of injustice at Hill Dickinson will only continue to grow.
