Everton FC watched in despair as centre referee Paul Tierney and VAR referee Chris Kavanagh denied them a opportunity to level the score from the spot against Manchester City, the table toppers.

Rodri, a Man City midfielder, had handled the ball in the box, and video replays showed that his hand had made direct contact with the ball. 

The center referee and the VAR official, on the other hand, were unconcerned about the incident, allowing Man City to win by a slender 1-0 margin.

Everton's bench, players, and fans were incensed at the decision.

Mike Riley, the Premier League Game Officials Limited's General Manager, is said to have personally apologized to Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright and coach Frank Lampard.

Denise Barrett-Baxendale, Everton's Chief Executive, wrote to the Premier League on Monday, demanding an apology and expressing the club's reservations.

After the game, Lampard stated that the decision cost them what they deserved from the game.

"The decision is incredible, incredible, and that loses us the opportunity to get what we deserved," Lampard said. 

"That's a VAR call. That's Chris Kavanagh, I spoke to the referee and they know it is a penalty, the question is that is it offside and it wasn't.

"That's the reason we have VAR. It wouldn't have needed more than five seconds to know it was a penalty. He [Kavanagh] should have either told the referee to give it or told him to go look at it.

"We've lost a point because of a professional who cannot do his job right. You start searching for whys and I can't think why. It is so incompetent to get it wrong.

"Pep [Guardiola] will know, Everton fans will know, Man City fans will know, it was the clearest penalty you could give: arm is out – great, below the sleeve – great, I was waiting for the penalty.

"Incompetence at best, at worst who knows? I'll wait for the statement or apology they do when things are wrong but it will mean nothing."

Nigeria's Alex Iwobi started the game and lasted for 88 minutes before being replaced by Anwar El Ghazi.

Under the former Chelsea boss, the Super Eagles midfielder has made three consecutive starts and has impressed in each of them.

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