Sean Dyche’s furious rant about ‘bizarre’ handball penalty conceded against Everton during their loss to Manchester City as former referee Mark Clattenburg admits the law needs looking at
- Nathan Aké's shot hit Amadou Onana's hand in the penalty area after a Man City corner
- Dyche called the decision 'bizarre' and called Onana's position 'natural'
- It's tight at the top of the tree with Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa all dropping points… so who has won Christmas so far? Listen to It all starts
Everton manager Sean Dyche has been left furious over a handball decision against his side during the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City.
Former Cityer Jack Harrison gave the Toffees the lead after a strong build-up before Phil Foden equalized for City.
Nathan Aké's effort was then deemed to have hit Amadou Onana's hand in the penalty area, causing referee John Brooks to point to the spot.
Julian Alvarez fired home before Bernardo Silva added a third to move Pep Guardiola's side into the top four.
However, Dyche was not very happy with the referee's decision and has made his feelings clear about it.
Amadou Onana dived for Nathan Aké's misplaced shot on goal as the ball hit his arm
Another angle showing the controversial penalty incident that will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of Everton fans
The Everton boss insisted: 'We can discuss the penalty all day long. Executives on Zoom calls have said it's a farce, but that's how it goes.
'That's completely natural. He doesn't raise his arm to save it, he literally jumps in to try to block the ball. How that is given as punishment is bizarre in my world, but I must be from another planet.
'Tonight the linesman gives that and he is 18 meters away, so I don't know who gives what anymore.
'Who knows? All managers debate it. Someone has to stand up at some point and realize that this can't be a penalty because he's just throwing himself in front of it trying to block the ball, that's all.”
Former referee Mark Clattenberg spoke to Amazon Prime about the decision, revealing: 'It changed the game, it was a big decision. If you block a shot on goal with an outstretched arm, even though he is trying to block the ball because it is a shot on goal, referees will always try to penalize it as a penalty.
'Do I agree? I don't, but we have been discussing the handle ball for many years and we are still no further in actually improving it, a week is given, a week is not, it is intentional, isn't it.
Toffees boss Sean Dyche was furious on the sidelines as he spoke to the media afterwards
Referee John Brooks pointed to the spot, but former referee Mark Clattenberg insisted this was incorrect
Phil Foden was one of many Manchester City players convinced it was a penalty
'We debate it every week and the referees just try to apply the criteria, the rules of the game. If the referee didn't give that penalty, he would be criticized.
'The law needs to change and it takes coaches, players and referees to find a way to understand handball.'
Former Belgium and Everton manager Roberto Martinez also reacted to the decision, saying: 'For me it's not a penalty at all. For me, football people know that it is not a penalty.
“City's celebration of getting that decision told the story. It shows the hunger. It is something that needs to be revised. But the law is something that doesn't fit the game.”