Alan Pardew stunned by ‘strange’ Everton controversy!

Alan Pardew was stunned by the late controversy in Everton’s draw with Manchester United, questioning its potential impact.

Everton stormed into a two-goal lead against Manchester United at Goodison Park, only for late strikes from Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte to force a 2-2 draw. The real controversy, however, came in the dying moments when Everton appeared to be awarded a clear penalty for a pull on Ashley Young—only for VAR to intervene and overturn the decision after showing questionable angles on the monitor.

Pardew Stunned by VAR’s Penalty Reversal
VAR once again took center stage in what was an action-packed clash. While Ashley Young may have gone down theatrically, there was clear contact on his shirt, making the decision to overturn the penalty highly questionable.

Speaking on *talkSPORT* (February 23, 18:10), Alan Pardew voiced his confusion over the call.

“Can you imagine if that was the last game of the season and Everton needed to win to stay up? The feeling would be completely different,” he said.

“They’re frustrated now, but if that decision cost them survival, the outrage would be massive. One angle clearly showed the shirt pull—it looked like a definite penalty. But the other clips made it seem like Young dived. It was a strange decision. Personally, I think it was a penalty.”

 VAR’s Controversial Role Continues
VAR has long been a source of frustration for fans, and this incident is a prime example of why. Referee Andy Madley had a clear view of the challenge and initially awarded the penalty, only for the review process to cast doubt on his call. The inconsistency in VAR’s intervention raises further questions about its effectiveness.

Fortunately for Everton, their improved form under David Moyes means this decision won’t significantly impact their season. However, as Pardew pointed out, had they been in a relegation battle, such a call could have been season-defining.

With Everton currently sitting above Manchester United in the Premier League table, securing even a point keeps them in a stable position. Moyes will likely be pleased with his side’s resilience, ensuring they didn’t leave the game empty-handed.