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The Premier League have reportedly acknowledged that Manchester City incorrectly avoided conceding a penalty in what ended as a 3–3 draw with Everton, a result that has kept the club's title challenge behind Arsenal in the standings.
Manchester City skipper Bernardo Silva took a physical approach to tracking his midfield counterpart Merlin Röhl during an Everton corner in the 85th minute of the league encounter at the Hill Dickinson Stadium earlier this month. Röhl was visibly pulled to the ground, yet the contact went undetected by on-field referee Michael Oliver amid the usual set-piece chaos.
VAR Paul Howard reviewed the incident but ultimately concluded that any infringement had ended before the ball was in play. Penalties cannot be awarded when the game is not yet active.
Everton manager David Moyes strongly protested that Bernardo was still fouling Röhl at the moment the ball was delivered into the box. "If that isn't given as a penalty, then it's a complete free-for-all from here on out," he raged.
"I may have to completely rethink how I coach my defenders to defend. It seems like you're now allowed to grapple and wrestle opponents to the ground. I'm utterly stunned."
The Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel sided with Moyes, as reported by BBC Sport. All five members of the independent, retrospective panel unanimously concluded that "there is a clear, sustained holding offence which continues as the corner is taken and the ball comes into play."
What Impact VAR Error Could Have on the Premier League Title Race
At the time of this contentious decision, Everton were leading 3–2. A penalty could have secured victory for the home side and left Manchester City six points behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table with just one game in hand. Instead, no spot kick was awarded and Jérémy Doku grabbed a late equalizer to earn a share of the points.
By salvaging a draw on Merseyside and winning their next two Premier League fixtures, City have risen to just two points behind Arsenal after both sides have played 36 games.
Had Guardiola's men been forced to accept defeat against Everton, the Gunners could have drawn one of their remaining games and still stayed ahead of City. However, any points dropped by Arsenal hand their nearest rivals the opportunity to turn the title race into a goal difference contest — and City currently hold the advantage in that department.
As Doku aptly put it at the time: "One point is better than nothing."