Premier League clarify reason for VAR call not to give Everton penalty for Rodri handball

The Premier League have put out a brief statement on why the VAR team decided against awarding a penalty for Everton after Rodri appeared to handle the ball inside the box.

Everton had frustrated Manchester City in the first half and were close to breaking the deadlock on several occasions.

City eventually gained a foothold in the game and began pressuring Jordan Pickford’s goal to find the breakthrough.

It eventually came in the 82nd minute when Phil Foden popped up with a neat finish past the Everton goalkeeper.

But just minutes alter and the whole of Goodison Park were up in arms when Rodri appeared to handle the ball inside his own box.

Richarlison had sprung the offside trap, racing through on goal to test Ederson with a low shot.

Ederson parried the effort, with the ball flying into the air with Rodri coming in to clear his lines.

The midfielder allowed the ball to bounce and then appeared to control it with his arm before Everton players began to surround the referee.

Paul Tierney waited as VAR took a long look at the incident with pundits and fans expecting a penalty to be awarded.

But there was audible gasps in the stadium as Tierney confirmed Chris Kavanagh had decided it wasn’t a penalty.

The Premier League have now announced that there was “not clear enough evidence to show conclusively that it was handball”.

It was a huge escape for Pep Guardiola’s side, who extended their lead over Sunday’s Carabao Cup finalists Liverpool back to six points having played one match more, and harsh on opponents who worked incredibly hard in the face of increased relegation pressure.