Premier League panel backs no-penalty call for Man City against Sunderland

The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel has backed the decision not to award Sunderland a penalty against Manchester City, voting 3-2 in support of referee Rob Jones after Elliot Anderson was struck on the hand.

What we know

• Anderson was involved in a second-half incident during City’s 5-3 victory over Sunderland, with the ball hitting his hand as he contested possession with Enzo Le Fée inside the penalty area.
• Jones rejected Sunderland’s appeals on the pitch, while VAR official Michael Salisbury chose not to recommend a review from Stockley Park.
• Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris was angered by the decision during the match.
• The five-member panel, made up of former players and coaches plus Premier League and refereeing representatives, ruled that no penalty was the correct outcome by three votes to two.
• The panel said the players were competing at close range after the ball had deflected from Le Fée. Two members believed Anderson made an additional deliberate arm movement and that a handball should have been given.
• VAR’s choice not to step in received stronger backing, with a 4-1 vote in favour of Salisbury’s decision.

Next step: Everton offside call also reviewed

The same panel was divided over Everton’s disallowed goal in their 1-0 win over Ipswich at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Thierno Barry headed in what Everton believed was a second goal, but VAR ruled that Brennan Johnson, standing in front of Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton, was offside and interfering with an opponent.

That intervention was supported by a 3-2 majority. The panel found Johnson was close to Walton and made a movement that affected the goalkeeper’s ability to set himself and react to the ball. Two members disagreed, believing Johnson’s positioning and movement did not affect Walton.