Gary Lineker has expressed his view that Brighton were unfairly treated after Everton were awarded a decisive penalty in their clash at the Amex Stadium yesterday.
The contentious moment came when Iliman Ndiaye converted from the spot following a VAR intervention that penalized Seagulls defender Joel Veltman for handball. Albion players and fans argued that Veltman had been fouled in the lead-up as he fell while attempting to clear the ball under pressure from Everton substitute Beto.
However, referee Tim Robinson disagreed, awarding the penalty after consulting the pitch-side monitor. Brighton, despite dominating the second half, were unable to find an equalizer, leaving them frustrated as they remained in ninth place.
Speaking on Match of the Day alongside Danny Murphy and Alan Shearer, Lineker remarked:
“I see why it was given but I’m just saying, there’s no player ever who would do that intentionally in the box. I think he was just pushed by both players at full speed… and in slow motion, it just looks a little bit more like a penalty. But the fact we disagree suggests, is it clear and obvious?”
The Premier League matchday center later clarified:
“The VAR checked for a potential penalty for handball by Veltman and deemed it as a deliberate action and recommended an on-field review. The referee then awarded a penalty to Everton.”
The game, which had been uneventful for much of the first half, erupted in controversy just before halftime. Initially awarding a corner, Robinson overturned his decision after reviewing the footage. The home crowd, convinced their team should have been awarded a free-kick for a foul on Veltman, jeered when the incident was replayed on the stadium’s big screens.
Ndiaye calmly slotted the penalty into the bottom left corner in the 42nd minute and was subsequently booked for excessive celebration after mimicking a seagull. His spot-kick proved to be the only shot on target during a largely uneventful half, which ended with loud boos from Brighton fans directed at the officials.
Joel Veltman maintained that he had been fouled during the build-up to the incident. Speaking to Premier League Productions, he explained:
“I was sandwiched between two guys. I got a little push from the right-hand side that moved my hand forward and the ball was there.
“When you fall, your automatic reaction is to try to get your hands forward on to the ground before you hit your head, it was more a reaction than a purposeful handball.
“I would 100 per cent have headed it or cleared it with my feet without the push.”
Despite Brighton’s relentless pressure in the second half, they were unable to salvage anything from the game, leaving fans and players alike bitterly frustrated.
