Premier League explain Everton VAR drama as goal disallowed against Tottenham | Football | Sport

Tottenham were rescued by VAR after Everton‘s equaliser from Jake O’Brien was disallowed due to an offside on Iliman Ndiaye. The Everton forward seemed to interfere with Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, leading referee Craig Pawson to review the decision at the pitchside monitor. The official concluded that both Ndiaye and Jack Grealish were offside and promptly ruled out the goal, a decision later clarified.

A statement issued by the Premier League Match Centre read: “#EVETOT – 24′ VAR OVERTURN After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to Everton. Referee announcement: After review, Everton 10 and 18 were in an offside position, interfering with the goalkeeper. The final decision is an in-direct free kick in the six yard box.”

Micky van de Ven had earlier put Spurs ahead and scored a second just before half-time from another corner.

Everton began the match stronger, with Grealish coming close within minutes and James Garner narrowly missing a long-range attempt. Bentancur also saw a similar effort go wide between Van de Ven’s goals.

Spurs manager Thomas Frank has faced criticism over the past week following two lacklustre attacking performances, and his decision to persist with Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur, which continued on Sunday, has also been questioned.

During his pre-Everton press conference, he addressed claims that Spurs have lacked creativity going forward.

“I think probably the team,” he conceded. “I think it’s always team effort, how we construct a team or how. In the end, it’s my final decision, of course.

“It’s a collective effort in terms of how we want to build up or how we want to create chances. I think both of them are more than capable of helping the team.

“And I think it’s one thing that is part of the game. The other part is, of course, how can we make sure we are strong and solid enough if we are in a spell where we may be.

“The team is not as free-floating as we want it to be because of new players getting, how can you say, gelled together, getting it more smooth, more free.

“How can we make sure that if that’s not working, how can we make sure we are super solid and still building? So that’s part of the puzzle.”

The north London outfit have struggled for fluidity in attack but have excelled from dead-ball situations, with Van de Ven now boasting five goals this campaign.

His opener also arrived courtesy of Bentancur flicking a corner back across the box.