Key Match Incidents Panel: Everton wrongly denied penalty in Arsenal defeat

Everton should have been awarded a penalty in their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on 20 December, according to the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel.

The Gunners were leading 1-0 in the 57th minute at the Hill Dickinson Stadium when William Saliba and Everton striker Thierno Barry clashed inside the area.

Barry got to the ball first, but his boot was kicked by Arsenal‘s French defender.

The panel voted 3:2 that the on-field decision by referee Sam Barrott to not award a penalty was incorrect.

It also voted 3:2 that video assistant referee (VAR) Michael Salisbury should have sent the match official to the monitor to change his decision.

Three panel members noted “Saliba carelessly kicks Barry with no contact on the ball” and they felt it was a clear and obvious error.

Two panellists supported the no-penalty call because “there was not enough impact and a delayed reaction”.

Everton manager David Moyes was confused why other similar incidents had resulted in spot-kicks.

In particular he referenced a penalty given by the on-field referee to Fulham against Nottingham Forest two days later. The panel unanimously supported this spot-kick decision.

“I was half-choking last night when I saw the decision given [to Fulham] and ours wasn’t,” said Moyes. “It feels as though certain clubs get those decisions and other clubs don’t.”

Each KMI Panel is made up of five members. Three are former players or coaches, plus there is one representative each from the Premier League and Professional Game Match Officials.