Lampard fumes over three VAR calls as Everton beat Coventry 3-1
Coventry City boss Frank Lampard slammed three VAR decisions after his side lost 3-1 to Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool on Friday night. Coventry led through Yann Gboho before Thierno Barry's brace and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's strike turned the match.
First, James Tarkowski appeared to pull Caleb Yirenkyi's hair in the box — referee Stuart Attwell waved play on, with VAR backing the call. Second, Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi went down under Mykolenko's challenge on the edge of the penalty area; Lampard insisted it was a clear penalty. Third, Barry's second goal was checked for handball but allowed — Lampard claims replays show Barry flicked it in with his hand.
"They are saying it's not enough of a pull," Lampard said of the Tarkowski incident. On Awoniyi: "Taiwo, for me, on the line of the box is a penalty." On Barry: "I have seen an angle where he has flicked it in with the final touch. VAR is there for that."
The defeat leaves Coventry winless in three. For Awoniyi, the non-call continues a frustrating spell — he has yet to score in his last five appearances. Everton climb to mid-table with the win.
VAR consistency remains the talking point: three close calls, all going the home side's way. Should the Premier League review VAR thresholds for penalty-area contact and handball interpretations?