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Football

25th Apr 2022

FA to contact Frank Lampard over comments on referee Stuart Attwell

Daniel Brown

Lampard believes Everton should’ve had a penalty

The FA are set to ask Everton manager Frank Lampard to explain his comments about referee Stuart Attwell after the Toffees’ Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, as reported by The Athletic.

Lampard was annoyed that Attwell failed to award his side a penalty during the clash at Anfield, with Everton dropping into the relegation zone after suffering a 2-0 defeat.

In the second-half of the Premier League match, Toffees youngster Anthony Gordon was tackled by Liverpool defender Joel Matip in the penalty area.

FA Lampard referee Attwell

The incident was checked by the video assistant referee

Attwell waved away Everton’s appeals for a penalty, with the incident also being checked by the video assistant referee.

After a tense first-half, Liverpool eventually broke the deadlock through left-back Andy Robertson, before substitute Divock Origi added a second goal late on.

“It was a penalty,” Lampard said after the match.
“If that was Mo Salah at the other end, he gets a penalty.

“You don’t get them here (Anfield). That’s the reality of football sometimes.

“If you look back with that on VAR, there’s questionable things going on, maybe that’s to be expected when you come here.”

FA Lampard referee Attwell

Everton ask Mike Riley to explain the officiating decision

Everton have since asked referees’ boss Mike Riley to explain the officiating decision made around the tackle on Gordon.

However, The Athletic add that the video assistant referee checked the decision, but ultimately decided that there was not enough contact to overturn the on-pitch call made by Attwell.

It is also thought that the FA have reviewed a social media post by Gordon on Monday, though he has not been asked to provide observations. The 21-year-old posted a video of the tackle on Twitter, captioned with two face-palming emojis.

Following the result at Anfield, Everton sit 18th in the Premier League table – two points from safety with six league games remaining.