ROY RAGE AT ‘ROBBERY’
ROY HODGSON angrily claimed Crystal Palace had been “robbed” as Everton went top with a controversial penalty winner. The dreaded new handball rule struck again as play was halted long after Lucas Digne headed the ball against Joel Ward’s hand from close range.
After a VAR check referee Kevin Friend awarded the 40th-minute spot-kick – smashed home by Richarlison.
That came after Dominic Calvert-lewin boosted his England call-up hopes with a fifth goal in three games, and a headed Palace equaliser from Cheikhou Kouyate.
Palace boss Hodgson said: “The rule is a nonsense. How has everyone in football allowed this to come into operation?
“It is ruining the game of football, no question of that. The game I love is being reduced to this – penalty decisions for handballs that aren’t handballs.
“We can’t understand what constitutes a handball and what doesn’t. I am disappointed that after a good game of football we have been robbed of any points.”
Controversy aside, what a start to the season for Everton. It drips with promise for boss Carlo Ancelotti and his rebuilt team.
The Toffees are looking down on the rest after winning their first three Premier League games for the first time in 27 years.
And striker Calvert-lewin, 23, could not be nudging England boss Gareth Southgate any harder with the squad announcement for next month’s friendly against Wales looming.
Ancelotti said: “The only way for Dominic to have a chance of playing for the national team is to keep behaving and playing like he is at this moment.’’
On his side’s winner, Ancelotti added: “I am not the right person to judge the referee’s decision. I cannot agree with the new rule on handball, but we must accept it.’’