Alan Shearer rages as BBC show ‘terrible’ footage of controversial Everton incident v Fulham

Alan Shearer has slammed an incident between Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno and Everton centre-back James Tarkowski in the Toffees’ opening Premier League loss as “terrible”.

Speaking on BBC Match of the Day (12 August), Shearer claimed the moment in the second half where the German held Tarkowski across the back in the box after his attempt to catch the ball, which led to an Everton putting the ball in the back of the net, was a poor refereeing decision and should have been a foul.

Shearer claims that while Sean Dyche would be understandably frustrated by the incident and lack of a goal, VAR could not intervene as the referee had already blown his whistle before the goal was scored.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer said: “This was the one here that Sean Dyche was on about. I think this is a terrible error. But he’s on about VAR, but it can’t intervene. The whistle already went before the ball was in the back of the net.

“What is Tarkowski meant to do there? That’s an error from the goalkeeper. I don’t know why the referee’s blown there for a four, I think that’s a huge error.

“I understand Dyche’s frustration, not only because of that decision but also the chance they created that they didn’t put away.”

Sean Dyche will be very frustrated following his opening-day defeat to Fulham, with this incident summing up the Toffees’ overall game.

Everton were adept at creating goalscoring opportunities, having made 19 shots to Fulham’s 9. However, they did not have the cutting-edge required to get themselves in the score sheet meaning 73rd minutes Bobby Decordova-Reid strike was all it took to lose the game.

However, Shearer is correct as refereeing decisions let Everton down at Goodison Park on Saturday and they could have had a much more favourable fate.

Leno’s action was baffling, but the referee having such a clear view and not making the correct decision will have spoiled many Everton fans’ return to Goodison Park.

Everton aims to have a much better season than last and will not want to find themselves in another relegation scrap, but decisions like this will not help them in that cause