Stuart Attwell was criticised by Frank Lampard on Thursday after sending Everton ace Allan off against Newcastle. Now, Attwell is set to officiate Sunday’s FA Cup clash against Crystal Palace – and Michael Ball has reacted.
Craig Pawson handed Allan a yellow card for a tackle on Newcastle flyer Allan Saint-Maximin – but a review from VAR, conducted by Attwell, saw Pawson told to go to the monitor. He changed his decision to a red card.
Attwell has hardly won any friends at Everton this season. In his three appearances as ref involving Everton during 21-22, the Toffees have lost all three to Tottenham 5-0, Manchester City in November and West Ham.
Then, he was perhaps at fault but this time, as VAR on Thursday night. Everton won 1-0 thanks to Alex Iwobi’s 99th-minute goal – but Attwell put such a result in jeopardy. He will ref Sunday’s FA Cup clash against Palace.
Everton icon Ball reacted on Twitter upon hearing that 39-year-old Attwell will be the man with the whistle against Palace in this weekend’s FA Cup quarter-final – and the former left-back posted sarcastically on Twitter.
Ball on Attwell: Allan decision woeful, Everton deserve more luck
The decision to inform Pawson to look at the monitor is one of the worst VAR interventions the Premier League has seen since its introduction. It is a stone-wall yellow card, even an intentional foul from Allan.
The Brazilian makes the foul with the knowledge that is a yellow card. Of course, he would never had made the tackle if he felt there was a chance of a red. Attwell will be under the microscope on Sunday.
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