Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has launched a scathing attack on VAR officials after James Tarkowski avoided a red card for his “terrible” challenge on Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister during Wednesday’s Merseyside derby.
The explosive incident occurred just 11 minutes into Everton’s 1-0 loss at Anfield when Tarkowski executed a two-footed lunge, winning the ball but crashing through Mac Allister’s left leg with dangerous force.
While referee Sam Barrott showed only yellow, Dean – speaking on Sky Sports – insisted it was a clear sending-off:
“Tarkowski’s played the ball… but when you see the still (image), the follow-through is awful. I mean – he hasn’t got his foot planted luckily enough, but it’s a red card. There’s speed, intensity, force – the lot. He gets the ball, but the follow-through – it’s a terrible challenge.”
The ex-official was even more damning about VAR’s inaction:
“For me, he (Barrott) should’ve gone to the screen, should’ve sent Tarkowski off – 100 percent. It is a horrible challenge. It is a red card all day.”
Despite PGMOL backing the on-field decision – claiming the follow-through was merely “reckless” – the controversy has reignited debate over VAR’s consistency in derby matches, with Everton’s David Moyes also left fuming over a separate disallowed offside call in Liverpool’s winner.
