Everton have appealed Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s dubious red card at Crystal Palace on Thursday night, with the club keen to understand why and how referee Chris Kavanagh came to the decision to send off the striker for a clean tackle.
Kavanagh let the challenge, which happened in the 78th minute of the drab 0-0 draw in the FA Cup, pass without even awarding a free-kick. But after consultations with VAR Craig Pawson, the referee went over to the monitor and upgraded the decision to a red card.
It left players baffled, with Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen seen shaking the hand of Calvert-Lewin and mouthing ‘it’s not a red’ to the Everton striker. Sean Dyche admitted that his patience with VAR was running thin after the match.
Everton are furious at a string of bad decisions that have gone against them in recent weeks, such as Amadou Onana not being awarded a penalty at Tottenham when his shirt was clearly pulled, and the same player penalised for an alleged handball against Manchester City.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was sent off during Everton’s FA Cup third round tie with Crystal Palace
Calvert-Lewin appeared to win the ball as he dived in on Palace full-back Nathaniel Clyne
They are likely to ask the FA to provide the audio recordings of conversations between the VAR and on-pitch officials, to see just how Kavanagh came to his ultimate decision of red card having initially not seen it as a free-kick offence.
The club are keen to understand how Kavanagh was swayed into sending off Calvert-Lewin for a tackle which was not reckless or out of control, despite the fact his studs were slightly showing. An audio file from the VAR hub would show the process of how it was deemed a red.
Many in the game have pointed to the fact that Kavanagh was greeted at the VAR monitor with a super slow-motion replay, which made the challenge look much worse – as it does with most tackles.
Everton are also incensed at inconsistencies in refereeing this season and the dressing room is said to be growing frustrated at a string of bad decisions going against them.
Clyne went down clutching onto his ankle before the referee was told to go to the monitor
On the advice of VAR Referee Chris Kavanagh chose to give Calvert-Lewin a red card
Tony Bellew, Jeff Stelling and Jamie O’Hara were among those to slam the decision
Though Calvert-Lewin’s red did not directly alter the match result, Everton were well on top and chasing a match-winner before the incident.
The challenge is similar in sorts to one from Hull’s Tyler Morton earlier this week, in which the on-loan midfielder saw a ban overturned after being shown a straight red card in a match the Tigers ultimately lost.
Everton legend Peter Reid posted on X: ‘I’ve lost the will to live, games gone.’ Manager Dyche said after the match: ‘We all know the outcome – they’re going to agree with everything they’ve been told (by the VAR).
‘I don’t know what the stats are but the chances of something getting turned down are miniscule. Why even bother? I’m a fan of VAR but I just don’t get (why they go over to) look at the screen.’
