The Everton manager Claims PGMO Unwilling to Clarify Controversial Calls
David Moyes has claimed that the Professional Game Match Officials is hesitant to communicate with managers because a high number of refereeing decisions this season have been hard to justify. The Everton manager said he was left speechless when Fulham were awarded what proved to be a decisive penalty against Nottingham Forest on Monday.
Lack of Uniformity in Spot-Kick Decisions Highlighted
The Toffees were refused a penalty on Saturday for a similar offence during their home defeat by Arsenal. The manager initially held his tongue on the decision at the time but, in light of Fulham’s penalty, believes the lack of consistency of referees can not be ignored.
“It took my breath away last night when I saw the decision given and ours wasn’t,” said the Everton manager. “There is a sense that certain clubs get those decisions and other clubs don’t. It appears we are on the latter side of that.”
Previous Cases and Mounting Discontent
Moyes also referenced an earlier incident in the season at Brentford involving Virgil van Dijk which was quite similar. “I think eventually it was given. We are disappointed it wasn’t given on the night and we are looking at others which have been overlooked,” he added.
Communication Breakdown with Officiating Authorities
Questioned on whether he intended to present his case with referee chiefs, Moyes expressed further frustration. “It’s unclear,” he said. “They are not accommodating whatever you want. They are unwilling to have a conversation about it really. They might engage, but they don’t want to because they’re likely discovering it is very difficult to explain things.”
This stance from the officials highlights a wider issue of openness and accountability in the sport’s refereeing, as per the experienced manager.
