Frank Lampard receives phone call apology after launching VAR complaint
- Planet Sport writer
- 1 March 2022
Frank Lampard and Bill Kenwright received a phone call apology after being denied a penalty against Manchester City.
Everton manager Frank Lampard and chairman Bill Kenwright have both received an apology for Paul Tierney and Chris Kavanagh's failure to award them a penalty against Manchester City.
In the dying minutes, trailing 1-0 thanks to Phil Foden, the ball bounced onto Rodri's arm and it looked certain that the referee would point to the spot.
However, Tierney missed it and Kavanagh reviewed it upstairs only to allow play to continue.
Mike Riley, general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), has since spoken to Lampard and Kenwright on the phone and apologised for the error.
The result means Everton are one point above safety in 17th place and Lampard could not hide his anger following the defeat in the post-match interview.
"We've lost a point by a professional who can't do his job right," Lampard exclaimed after the defeat.
"It's incompetence at best. At worst, who knows? That's Chris Kavanagh. It's completely on Chris.
"The referee [Paul Tierney] on the day knows it was a penalty. [But] he couldn't see it.
"The decision is incredible, incredible that loses us the opportunity to get what we deserved. It wouldn't have needed more than five seconds to know it was a penalty. He should have told the referee to give it or to look at it.
"They have not given that as a penalty when it strikes him on the arm, in an unnatural position. I have a three-year-old daughter at home who could tell you that was a penalty."
Lampard later added: "I'll wait for the statement or apology they do when things are wrong, but it will mean nothing.
"I was calm, I was not shouting and ranting at him. I wanted to know if offside in the build-up but I have been told it wasn't in the build-up."
