'Not corrupt but...' - Richard Keys slams Everton controversy after watching Facebook video

Richard Keys was left raging over the controversy involving the process of overturning a penalty awarded to Dominic Calvert-Lewin as Everton were beaten by Brighton on Saturday (17 August).

The Toffees fell to a 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park but saw a spot-kick awarded for a challenge involving Lewis Dunk on Calvert-Lewin overturned at a VAR intervention.

Confusion reigned when the pitchside monitor appeared not to be working, though the Premier League later insisted referee Simon Hooper had back-up screen to check the football (Daily Mirror).

beIN SPORTS presenter Keys, though, was not convinced by the whole process – reposting a Facebook video he watched on his personal X account (18 August) and writing: “‘Higher bar’ they said. Whatever that means. ‘Refs will make the big calls’ they said. Really? So why did VAR overturn Everton’s pen? Clearly the screen wasn’t working but looking at these pics nor was the alleged back-up. Not corrupt. But worrying.”

Everton off to a poor start

A lot of confusion has reigned over the penalty incident and it is sure to be something that gets discussed pretty heavily this week, with the Premier League adamant footage was available to Hooper.

In truth, it did look like it probably was not a penalty but the concerning thing is the process of reaching that decision, all anyone wants is transparency with these things.

What is equally problematic, admittedly, is the familiar failings on the pitch for the Toffees, who ended up on the end of a convincing defeat having had plenty of chances to take the lead against the Seagulls.

A lack of clinical edge last term cost Everton in several games and it did again against Brighton. We’re only one game into the season so it is admittedly still a very, very small sample pool but there was an overriding feeling of deja vu.

Let’s hope that can change as the season moves up a gear in the coming weeks.

In other Everton news, Andy Gray vowed to call the club after what Keys told him live on air.

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