Alan Shearer analysed Everton’s penalty overturn and VAR on Match of the Day.(Image: BBC). Alan Shearer has agreed with Everton manager David Moyes that VAR appeared to try and ‘force’ referee Andy Madley to overturn a late penalty decision against Manchester United.. Ashley Young went down inside the 18-yard box while running towards the rebound from an Andre Onana save after Idrissa Gana Gueye’s initial shot from the edge of the area. Matthijs De Ligt pulled the Everton player’s shirt, but Madley is said to have penalised the nearby Harry Maguire.. A statement from the Premier League’s Match Centre explained VAR – Matt Donohue and assistant Derek Eaton – “checked the referee’s call of penalty to Everton for a challenge by Maguire on Young and it deemed that no foul had been committed and recommended an on-field review.”. Madley then overturned the original decision after going over to his pitch-side monitor. The referee saw three angles – two from side-on and one from above the goal – of the flashpoint, slowed down, and made a decision within 20 seconds.. Gary Lineker said on Match of the Day that he, Danny Murphy and Shearer were “a bit gobsmacked” about VAR’s intervention. The latter then analysed the incident.. Shearer said: “Well, whatever happened to the high bar, and clear and obvious, and not re-refereeing? There was actually no need for VAR to get involved at all here because it’s not a clear and obvious error.. “Yes, Ashley Young might try and make the most of it, but there are two clear pulls on his shirt here from De Ligt; there really is. And it’s clear to see it from [the angle inside the goal].. “Yes, as I said, he does go [down easily], but the referee gives the penalty there, and he’s sent over to the screen. But what is mind-boggling for me is that they don’t show him the correct angles.. “They’re showing that angle there [from side-on], which, okay, that might look like a bit of a dive. They show him that angle there [from high behind the goal], and straightaway, he’s off. That would be more confusing for me.”. Shearer was in agreement with Moyes about the process. The Everton manager told the BBC during his post-match interview: “I was a bit surprised that the referee was asked to go to VAR. I thought they were trying to sort of make the referee’s decision what they felt.”. Shearer continued: “I agree with David Moyes [that it was] as if they’re trying to force the referee into a decision, and for me, they get that wrong.” In conclusion, he reiterated: “It’s not a clear and obvious error.”. Article continues below. He has previously called out VAR for getting involved, in his opinion, unnecessarily. Reacting to Michael Oliver recommending an on-field review as VAR when West Ham United were awarded a penalty against United in late October, Shearer described that as an “awful decision.” The pundit told Premier League Productions. “That’s a terrible decision whether you like Manchester United or not, and I don’t understand why Michael Oliver [VAR] got involved.”. That game in question proved to be the final straw for Erik ten Hag – as he was sacked by United in the aftermath.
