Managers Pep Guardiola and Sean Dyche experienced different emotions at Goodison Park on Wednesday – but both left the field questioning the laws of football.
Manchester City defender John Stones exited the field with an ankle injury sustained after the assistant referee failed to raise his flag as Beto advanced towards the goal despite being in an offside position.
Later, in the second half, Everton felt aggrieved after conceding a penalty for Amadou Onana’s handball from Nathan Ake’s shot.
This allowed Julian Alvarez to score from the penalty spot, with goals from Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva on either side securing a 3-1 victory for the visitors.
“About the penalty, I have no clue,” said Dyche. “I don’t think anyone does. We had a Zoom call a couple of months ago; all the managers said it’s a farce, and we don’t know why they are giving penalties.
“The rules state this, which is why they gave it tonight. The linesman was 50 yards away and gives it; I don’t know what that is all about. They have the letters of the law, and that is not the referee’s fault. Is that deliberate? Of course not.”
Referee John Brooks initially awarded a corner after Ake’s shot hit Onana from close range, but the assistant referee advised him to award a penalty.
Former Everton manager Roberto Martinez said on Amazon: “For me, it is not a penalty at all. For me, football people know that it is not a penalty.”
However, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg stated on Amazon Prime: “No one is saying that the decision is wrong [for Onana’s handball], but we are saying that, by the way the law is written, it is wrong, and therefore, that is something that needs changing.”
Dyche added: “The only thing that worries me about the rules now is the experienced referees used the rules, now everyone says the rule is that and end of story. That is where the rule has to have flexibility.
“Tonight, how do you define anything like that? You are going into crystal ball mode. If he deliberately did that, he must be some keeper because his reactions were cat-like. What a save.”
‘The rules come from the big bosses… but I don’t understand’
Meanwhile, City is awaiting information on the seriousness of Stones’ injury after an awkward landing while challenging striker Beto, who was about to take a shot.
However, even if Everton’s Portuguese forward had scored, it would not have counted because he was clearly offside.z z z z z z z z z
The assistant referee delayed raising his flag because there was a chance of a goal, following instructions implemented since the start of last season.
“This is the issue with not putting the flag up,” said former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer on Amazon Prime. “They keep on playing, and one of these days someone will get injured.”
Guardiola was also frustrated with the way the incident unfolded, confirming that the injury itself “doesn’t look good.”
The Manchester City boss said, “I don’t understand. It’s so clear, the offside, and now he is injured. They say ‘you’re right Pep, you’re right’… but it’s late.
“It’s not them [the officials], the rules come from the big bosses… but I don’t understand.”
