Sports · Football · 1 hr ago
Lampard says VAR failed Coventry in 3-1 defeat to Everton
Coventry lost 3-1 to Everton in a Premier League match on Friday on Merseyside.
Manager Frank Lampard said VAR failed his team after three decisions were reviewed without a penalty or other punishment being given.
Two of the incidents involved Coventry penalty appeals, while the third was a possible handball before Everton scored their second goal.
One review examined James Tarkowski’s challenge on Ethan Pinnock and apparent pull of Caleb Yirenkyi’s hair.
Lampard said he believed the hair pull stopped Yirenkyi from jumping properly and should have been penalised.
The decisions matter because Lampard said they changed the game, though Coventry had scored first before Everton won.
Everton beat Coventry 3-1 after coming from behind in a Premier League match on Friday.
Coventry manager Frank Lampard said video assistant referee (VAR) failed to do its job after three disputed decisions went against his side.
Coventry appealed for penalties over James Tarkowski’s hair pull on Caleb Yirenkyi and a challenge on Taiwo Awoniyi.
VAR also reviewed a possible handball by Everton’s Thierno Barry before his second goal, but officials ruled it was not an offence.
Everton manager David Moyes denied Barry handled the ball and said the hair-pulling rule was “ridiculous”.
- Who
- Everton and Coventry, whose manager Frank Lampard criticised the VAR decisions.
- What
- Everton won 3-1 after Coventry disputed two penalty decisions and a possible handball.
- When
- Friday, 6 November 2026.
- Where
- Everton’s home ground in Merseyside.
- Why
- Lampard said three major decisions went against Coventry and argued they could have changed the game.
Coventry, represented by Frank Lampard
Everton, represented by David Moyes
Hair pull
Coventry, represented by Frank Lampard
Lampard said James Tarkowski pulling Caleb Yirenkyi’s hair was a foul and should have brought a penalty.
Everton, represented by David Moyes
Moyes said the rule had changed and argued that the hair-pulling rule was “ridiculous”.
Possible handball
Coventry, represented by Frank Lampard
Lampard said Thierno Barry handled the ball before scoring his second goal.
Everton, represented by David Moyes
Moyes denied that the ball hit Barry’s hand.
VAR decisions
Coventry, represented by Frank Lampard
Lampard said VAR did not do its job and that the disputed calls could have changed the match.
Everton, represented by David Moyes
Moyes said Everton had also had decisions go against them.
Coventry appealed for a penalty after James Tarkowski pulled Caleb Yirenkyi’s hair, but referee Stuart Attwell gave no penalty.
Yann Gboho put Coventry ahead.
Thierno Barry scored twice and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall added a late goal as Everton won 3-1.
- Final score
- Everton 3-1 Coventry
- Coventry goal
- Yann Gboho
- Everton goals
- Thierno Barry (two) and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
- Referee
- Stuart Attwell
- VAR officials
- Timothy Wood and Gary Beswick
3 sources
What people are saying
VAR is there for that and it didn't do its job.
I can't sit here and say I know everything and they should give all three of them, if one or two of them don't go our way, but they would clearly change the game.
It certainly doesn't hit his hand.
The hair pull rule has changed so it would be a booking if it was but I still think it's ridiculous that rule is in the game.
Posts on X
#EVECOV – 62’ The referee’s call of goal to Everton was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Barry did not commit a handball offence. VAR: “Okay, that’s his side that's definitely not hand. Confirming the on-field decision of goal, check complete”.