Feeling hard done by certain decisions not going his team’s way, Eveton manager Frank Lampard accused referees of big-club bias after the Toffees’ recent defeat to Liverpool. The Englishman has been asked to clarify his words by English football’s governing body.
The refereeing decision Lampard pointed at in particular took place minutes after the interval, when, getting on the wrong side of the defender Joel Matip, winger Anthony Gordon was shoved to the ground inside the box.
The former Chelsea and Derby County manager stated with confidence that that was a spot-kick, and it would’ve been given as such if the roles were reversed.
“It’s a penalty in the second half for us. I don’t think you get them here. If it’s Mo Salah at their end, he gets a penalty. I’m not trying to create a conflict here, it’s just the reality of football sometimes.
Maybe I’ve played at clubs when we’re in the top reaches of the league, the crowd is behind them and you get them or you don’t.
“For me, for sure, it was a penalty on Anthony. It’s a foul and you don’t get them here.”
Lampard said.
The Football Association has since asked Lampard to clarify his comments about the situation, while no sterner action has been taken against the former England international just yet. Furthermore, the FA has also reviewed a social media post put forward by Gordon – the recipient of the foul – but he has not been asked to explain himself any further.
Conversely, Everton has written to referees’ chief Mike Riley, demanding an explanation as to why they weren’t awarded a penalty in the second half – and why the incident wasn’t scrutinized any further. However, as per The Athletic, VAR did check the incident at the time it took place but decided there wasn’t enough in it to overturn the on-field referee’s call.
