“Do your job” – Ex-FIFA official attacks Michael Oliver over Everton player incident.
Keith Hackett has slammed Michael Oliver following a contentious moment in the Premier League match between Everton and Bournemouth. Sean Dyche’s team failed to halt their Premier League winless streak on Saturday (30 March), as a late own goal by Seamus Coleman ensured the Cherries took all three points with a 2-1 victory on the south coast.
However, former Fifa official Hackett believes the Toffees were denied a penalty when Dominic Calvert-Lewin was tripped, and he has criticised Oliver, who was on VAR duty, for failing to overturn Samuel Barrot’s ruling. On Sunday (March 31), he wrote in X: “Everton is on the wrong end of another stupid judgement. When Everton’s Calvert Lewin was clearly tripped, Ref Barrot said ‘no’. “VAR Oliver once again failed to help his comrade. Come on, Michael, do your job. That was a foul and a penalty kick. “You let down your colleague.”
Will Everton avoid relegation from the Premier League to the Championship? While Everton have been nowhere near good enough in the Premier League under Dyche in recent months, it appears that almost everything is working against them to keep them from relegation this season.
Whether it’s point deductions for breaking profit and sustainability regulations or terrible decisions like the one against Bournemouth, the Toffees just can’t seem to get a break, and they deserve more than a stroke of luck.
Hopefully, something will change sooner rather than later, because it is difficult to see how the Blues can stay up right now. They cannot buy a league win, and a further point deduction is expected soon.
While Dyche deserves some criticism, it has felt like the Everton manager is fighting a lost battle at times. Something has to change if the Toffees are to remain in the Premier League next season. Most fans don’t understand how VAR missed one of the clearest trips and penalties, but it’s almost become expected when Dyche’s team is involved.
