James Tarkowski slams VAR as Everton drop points following controversial penalty | OneFootball

The Toffees were holding out for a draw but lost after a contentious handball decision

James Tarkowski said that a controversial penalty decision cost Everton a point as they were beaten 1-0 by Leeds in their Premier League opener.

The match was goalless in the late stages when Tarkowski was adjudged to have blocked Anton Stach’s shot with his arm, despite keeping it in a natural position.

A VAR check affirmed referee Chris Kavanagh’s decision and Felix Nmecha dispatched the spot-kick to hand Leeds a winning start on return to the top flight. Speaking at full-time, Tarkowski said the referee had initially told him a penalty would not be given.

“As soon as the ref blew, I was confident it would be overturned,” he said. “My first question to him was if my arm is by my side, which it was, is it a penalty, to which he said no.

“The ball is allowed to hit your arm, it just can’t be away from your body unnaturally. I don’t understand it really.”

Tarkowski said he did not understand the decision

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He continued, adding that the initial decision actually came from an assistant: “The linesman gave it, apparently, he was 45 yards away, I don’t understand how he can see what I’ve done with my arm from the angle.

“Bizarre, bizarre moment and it cost us a point.”

An exasperated David Moyes empathised with his defender, saying the decision compounded a difficult week for the Toffees, but conceded that Leeds were the better side.

“The goal is completely wrong, really harsh,” he declared. “Leeds were better than us on the night, certainly in the first half but it is hard to lose on that.

“It took a deflection. Tarky would have had to get his arm chopped off.

“They seem to think that because you lean, your arms can go away. You’re allowed to lean in football.

“It hasn’t been a good week for me. That decision was a poor decision. VAR had a chance to get that decision right and fair, and that wasn’t fair.”

The incident is one of several contentious VAR moments to crop up on opening weekend.

Marcos Senesi dodged a red card for ending a Liverpool counter-attack with an apparent handball on Friday, before Crystal Palace saw Eberechi Eze’s free-kick goal ruled out after Marc Guehi fell foul of a little-known rule regarding how close a player can stand to the defensive wall.