Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker disagree over controversial Everton decision - 'It's a shambles'

Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker disagree over controversial Everton decision - 'It's a shambles'

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have had their say on the penalty that condemned Everton to a 1-0 defeat at Leeds United in their Premier League opener

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer speak on The Rest is Football podcast

Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker have waded into the debate over the controversial decision that cost Everton dear in their Premier League opener. The Blues went down to a 1-0 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road on Monday night.

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While David Moyes' men were well below par, they looked set to earn a point until Leeds were awarded a penalty late on.

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Referee Chris Kavanagh pointed to the spot after Everton captain James Tarkowski flung his body at a shot by Leeds midfielder Anton Stanch that struck his upper arm.

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The centre-back's arm was not raised but, after a VAR check, the spot-kick was allowed to stand, with Whites substitute Lukas Nmecha side-footing the ball past Jordan Pickford to earn his newly promoted side a 1-0 win.

Both Tarkowski and his manager David Moyes were disgusted by the decision, while speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton described it as “a scandal.”

And Sutton's old Blackburn Rovers striking partner Shearer agrees. However, ex-Everton forward Lineker says he could understand while the penalty was given.

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“I suppose playing devil’s advocate here, because I agree it was very, very harsh,” said Lineker on The Rest Is Football podcast.

“But if you are leaning towards the ball, the first thing that goes is your arm towards the ball.”

Shearer replied: “But he’s still in a natural position. It’s still down by his side.

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“It’s still down by his side, and it’s taking a deflection.

“I just think the handball law is an absolute (expletive). It’s a shambles. It is.

“They have tried so many things that have just not worked. And how many times are we seeing it?

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“The handball law, to me, just needs to be really simple. Is it deliberate handball or not? What’s wrong with that?”

The incident took place just 15 days after Tarkowski had conceded another controversial penalty in Everton's 2-2 draw with Manchester United in the Premier League Summer Series at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

On that occasion, he was adjudged to have brought down Amad, who had gone to ground theatrically despite minimal contact. The ECHO was told that referee Thomas Bramall apologised to the Blues' players afterwards, admitting he got it wrong.

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Tarkowski told the ECHO on Monday after the loss to Leeds: “It’s not a penalty. I leaned into the ball and it hit my arm.

“I couldn’t see it. My arm’s by my side, so unless I put my arms right behind my back, it’s still going to hit my arm because it’s right by my side, so I don’t understand how it can be given as a penalty.

“The linesman has given it from 45 yards on the side and the referee has not. How he can judge that from that angle I don’t know, it’s bizarre and I can’t really understand it.

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“I was confident when he was giving the decision that it was going to get overturned. I asked the question to the referee: ‘If my arm is by my side, is it a penalty?’ to which he said: ‘No’. So I don’t understand how it’s been given.

“It’s like they’ve just made up a rule on the screen and tagged it up just before to make a reason to give a penalty. I said to the referee: ‘Why can’t you go and see it?’

“He can go over to the screen and if that’s his judgement of it but the way it hits me, it’s never a penalty. It’s a shame really.”

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