Ben Godfrey appeared to be fortunate to escape punishment when leaving his studs on Takehiro Tomiyasu’s face in Arsenal‘s match against Everton at Goodison Park.
The Everton defender was deemed not to have purposely stamped on the Arsenal right-back.
Referee Mike Dean had VAR Stuart Attwell in his ear, but there was a quick dismissal of the incident, with Godfrey not even booked.
Just before the VAR check, co-commentator Alan Smith said on Sky Sports: “I said he has been Everton’s most aggressive player. Looking at that he’s bang in trouble there, that did not look accidental. That was something he could have easily avoided.”
And after the check was over, Smith said: “You never know do you? You never know what conclusion they’re going to come to.”
The incident left Tomiyasu bleeding from his chin – although he was all smiles when protesting to referee Dean.
"That is something he could have avoided."
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 6, 2021
Did Ben Godfrey and #EFC get away with one here? ????
After a VAR check, there's no red card!pic.twitter.com/XfvUVyPUZa
Next to Jamie Carragher in the Sky Sports studio at half-time, Gary Neville said: “You’re talking to two of the masters of trying to make it look accidental.
“We think he definitely means that. However I can see why VAR have said it’s accidental, you couldn’t prove it… but as a professional you know.”
Carragher added: “He’s a very lucky boy.”
Just before half-time, Everton then saw an opening goal narrowly ruled out for offside.
Richarlison thought he had headed Everton in front, but a VAR check denied the hosts by the narrowest of margins.
Moments later, Martin Ødegaard put Arsenal ahead just before the half-time whistle.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3EKCi3b
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