‘Can’t be too many complaints’ – Ex-PL ref reacts to Everton controversy in loss v Bournemouth

Dermot Gallagher, a former Premier League referee, shared his insights on Sky Sports regarding a controversial incident during Everton’s match against Bournemouth on March 30, 2024. Gallagher expressed his belief that Everton should have been awarded a penalty due to a foul on Dominic Calvert-Lewin by Tyler Adams. Despite the apparent foul, the referee did not award a penalty, possibly thinking Calvert-Lewin had tripped himself. Gallagher highlighted that there would have been “no complaints” had a penalty been given, emphasizing the clear nature of the foul from another angle which suggested Calvert-Lewin was indeed kicked first[12].

This incident adds to a series of contentious decisions that have not gone Everton’s way this season, contributing to their challenging campaign. The lack of intervention from VAR to review the incident further or to suggest the referee take a second look at the monitor was noted as a significant oversight. Everton’s defeat to Bournemouth marked their 12th consecutive game without a win in the Premier League, underscoring the pressing need for the team to find a way to end this winless streak[12].

Everton’s next opportunity to turn their fortunes around comes quickly, with a match against Newcastle United scheduled for April 2, 2024. As the team navigates through this difficult period, the focus remains on breaking the winless run and securing much-needed points in their fight for Premier League survival[12].