Why wasn't Silva penalised?

TL;DR

Everton's manager David Moyes expressed frustration over a non-penalty call against Bernardo Silva during a match, suggesting it sets a dangerous precedent for future games. He questioned the fairness of allowing such physicality in the penalty area.

Key points

David Moyes criticized a non-penalty call against Bernardo Silva.
Merlin Rohl was pulled down during a corner kick.
Moyes warned of a potential increase in physicality in future games.

Everton

Football issues correspondent Dale Johnson byline banner

[BBC]

"If that doesn't get given as a penalty, then it's an absolute free-for-all from now on," David Moyes said after the game.

The Everton manager wanted a spot-kick after Merlin Rohl was pulled to the ground by Bernardo Silva at an 85th-minute corner.

"I might have to start coaching my defenders how to defend differently completely," Moyes added. "It looks like now you're able to sort of grapple and wrestle on the ground if you want.

"I'm absolutely amazed."

It was checked by Paul Howard, the video assistant referee, but he ultimately decided that the foul took place before the ball was in play.

And you cannot give a free-kick or a penalty if the ball is out.

The referee can take disciplinary action, but the restart has to remain the same.

Last season, Southampton's Jack Stephens was sent off via a VAR review for pulling the hair of Chelsea's Marc Cucurella when the ball was out. The game still got under way again with a corner.

It is often why you see a lot of the pushing and shoving taking place just before a corner taker delivers the ball into the box.

There is no doubt that most of the holding was before the ball was kicked. But Everton fans argue it was still happening when James Garner kicked the ball, and that VAR should have intervened.

The VAR stats show why Everton feel so frustrated.

With three rounds to go, they are the only team in the Premier League yet to have an overturn go in their favour. In fact, no other team has fewer than two.

At the other end of the scale, Chelsea have had 11 VAR interventions go their way.

The last time the Toffees gained from a review was in January 2025, for a penalty at Brighton.

But stats from the Premier League's key match incidents panel indicate Everton have not generally been hard done by.

Everton have suffered only one error this season, when they should have been awarded a penalty on VAR review at home to Arsenal.

The Toffees have, however, benefited from four refereeing mistakes.

There was a missed VAR intervention to award a penalty to Wolves in August.

A spot-kick should have been given to the Gunners in the reverse game at Emirates Stadium, and to Chelsea in March - but neither reached the threshold for VAR.

Garner, meanwhile, should have received a second caution against Aston Villa in January.

Read more from Dale on the officiating

Q&A

What incident led to David Moyes' comments about a penalty?

David Moyes commented after Merlin Rohl was pulled to the ground by Bernardo Silva during an 85th-minute corner, which he believed warranted a penalty.

Why did Moyes believe the non-call was significant?

Moyes argued that not awarding a penalty could lead to a 'free-for-all' in future matches, allowing excessive physicality in the penalty area.

What did Moyes suggest about coaching defenders after the incident?

Moyes indicated he might need to change how he coaches his defenders, as the incident suggested grappling and wrestling could be tolerated in the penalty area.