Alious
Everton’s 2-0 victory over Southampton, a historic final appearance at Goodison Park, has stirred controversy after former referee Keith Hackett claimed the Toffees were wrongly denied a penalty—and that Premier League official Michael Oliver’s reputation may have influenced the decision.
During the first half, Iliman Ndiaye—who had already put Everton ahead—was brought down inside the Southampton box by Flynn Downes, with replays clearly showing the Senegalese forward’s shirt being pulled. Despite the visible foul, referee Michael Oliver waved play on, and VAR opted not to intervene.
Hackett, the ex-head of PGMOL and a former FIFA referee, believes Oliver should have awarded the spot-kick. More significantly, he suggested Oliver’s stature in the refereeing hierarchy may have deterred VAR officials from overturning the call.
Speaking exclusively to *Football Insider*, Hackett stated, “That was a clear holding offence—Ndiaye’s shirt is being pulled away from his body. That is, by the laws of the game, a penalty.”
Hackett criticized the notion of “sustained holding” being used to justify such decisions, saying it has no basis in the official laws and has been inconsistently applied throughout the season. “There’s no such term in the actual laws. We’re hearing these unofficial interpretations from PGMOL, but the guidance is clear: pulling or holding is a foul, period.”
He went on to emphasize how the referee’s seniority may have protected the call from being challenged: “VAR won’t overrule Michael Oliver because he’s Michael Oliver. That’s the reality. His decisions are rarely questioned, even when he’s clearly wrong.”
The penalty, had it been awarded, may have given Ndiaye a shot at a memorable hat-trick in Everton’s emotional farewell to Goodison Park. While the Toffees still secured the win, the moment has left fans and pundits questioning the impartiality and consistency of officiating—especially with VAR’s role continuing to divide opinion.
Alious
