Fairness and Transparency.

Manchester United's game against Everton this weekend brought to the fore some important issues. If there is one thing all supporters want to see it is fairness and consistency in the decision making process.

When Manchester United's Anthony Martial was brought down by Everton's Idrissa Gueye in the first half a penalty was awarded by the match referee Jonathon Moss which in 'real time' appeared to be the correct decision. However, having had the benefit of replay, the three Sky pundits in the studio all agreed that Gueye had kicked the ball and Martial had 'won' a penalty for his side. However Dermot Gallagher, despite acknowledging that the incident was open to interpretation, felt that the referee was within his rights to give United a penalty due to the second contact from Gueye.( Gueye only moved once?) 

Graeme Souness was flabbergasted and said "He can think what he wants, I'm sorry. That's my opinion. I played the game for a long time." 

Jamie Carragher on MNF on Sky also commented ' It wasn't a penalty by the way'. 

Mark Clattenburg writing in the Daily Mail said of the incident 'That was not a penalty. Idrissa Gana Gueye clearly got a touch on the ball and you could see it change direction.After the Everton midfielder won the ball, Anthony Martial exaggerated his movement to make it look like a penalty.'

The problem here is that when VAR is introduced it cannot be open to interpretation as an influential voice such as Dermot Gallagher could see the wrong decision still given.

Which brings us on to Matial's 'exaggerated movement'.

In November 2017 Everton's Oumar Niasse became the first player to banned as he "exaggerated the effect of a normal contact to deceive the referee" and win a penalty according to the written reasons for his two-game ban for diving. An independent regulatory commission noted "the nature of the contact made by Dann was minimal and would not have thrown Niasse off balance and knock him down in the way he portrayed". The following month West Ham's Manuel Lanzini also received a ban when the incident was referred to an independent three-person FA panel who deemed Lanzini had deceived the referee. 

However since then there have been no further bans? Why? Many similar instances that have occurred since. There does not seem to be any difference in the Niasse and Martial incidents and both were accused post match of deceiving the referee but apparently an FA panel has ruled out taking action against the Manchester United forward. 

Consistency?