- James Tarkowski’s 17th-minute challenge on Alexis Mac Allister should have resulted in a red card, according to PGMOL’s review panel
- VAR failed to intervene despite four out of five experts branding the tackle dangerous enough for dismissal
- Diogo Jota penalty decision overturned by panel, Mohamed Salah’s spot kick deemed correctly awarded
Key Takeaways:
Retrospective Red: PGMOL Concedes Mistake in Derby Decision
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has acknowledged that James Tarkowski should have been sent off during Everton’s 2–0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on 24th March. In a post-match analysis conducted by their independent Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel, the referees’ body concluded that the centre-back’s lunge on Alexis Mac Allister posed a significant threat to player safety and met the threshold for a straight red card.
Tarkowski was booked in the 17th minute after a reckless tackle that left Mac Allister in clear distress. Despite referee Craig Pawson having a clear view of the incident, VAR did not intervene to upgrade the punishment. However, PGMOL’s internal assessment has since contradicted that decision, revealing that four of the five panel members believed a sending-off was warranted.
63 – James Tarkowski now has the joint most yellow cards without ever being sent off in Premier League history (63). Physical. pic.twitter.com/arZXhrRYRZ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 2, 2025
“The challenge was late, delivered with a straight leg, studs exposed, and carried a high level of force,” stated the PGMOL review. “It endangered the opponent’s safety to such a degree that it should have been penalised with a red card. The tackle exceeded the intensity threshold of serious foul play.”
Comparison to Curtis Jones Incident Highlights Severity
The severity of Tarkowski’s tackle was highlighted further when one panel member described it as more dangerous than Curtis Jones’s infamous red card in the same fixture during the previous Premier League season. In 2022–23, Jones was sent off for a similarly high-footed tackle in the derby, a decision widely accepted at the time. That comparison only amplifies concerns about consistency in high-risk challenges.
The derby, always a contentious affair, once again proved fertile ground for controversy. The lack of VAR intervention in this instance reignited debates surrounding the technology’s application and the consistency of disciplinary decisions in the Premier League.
Panel Dismisses Jota Penalty Claim, Confirms Salah’s
In addition to reviewing the Tarkowski challenge, the KMI panel also evaluated two controversial penalty scenarios from the match.
The panel unanimously ruled that Diogo Jota should not have been awarded a penalty late in the second half. The Portuguese forward went down after a brief interaction with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, prompting a penalty decision on the field. Subsequent review by the panel found that Pickford had made minimal contact, after pulling out of the challenge mid-action. VAR failed to overturn the decision during the game, a choice the PGMOL now says was incorrect.
“Pickford’s movement indicates intent to challenge, but he restrained just before contact. The contact was minimal and insufficient to justify a penalty,” read the panel’s assessment, noting a rare consensus among its five evaluators.
Conversely, the panel confirmed that Liverpool’s first-half penalty — from which Mohamed Salah opened the scoring — was correctly awarded. The decision followed a late sliding challenge by Nathan Patterson on Luis Díaz inside the box. VAR endorsed the referee’s decision at the time, and upon review, the panel agreed it met the criteria for a foul warranting a penalty.
Looking Ahead: Consistency and VAR Usage Under Scrutiny
PGMOL’s admission will likely add pressure on Premier League officials to ensure greater consistency and clarity in their use of VAR, particularly for challenges that risk player safety. Amid growing frustration from players, managers and fans, the league’s officiating authority may need to implement further training or adjust the threshold for intervention.
According to Opta, the Premier League has seen an average of 44.7 VAR interventions per season since its introduction in 2019, but the subjectivity of many decisions — particularly around red card incidents — continues to polarise opinion.
For Everton, the missed call compounds an otherwise frustrating afternoon at Anfield, which saw them reduced to 10 men after Ashley Young’s dismissal and ultimately leave with nothing. Liverpool tightened their grip on a top-four spot, while the Toffees continue to battle for mid-table security.
Ultimately, the PGMOL’s transparency is welcome — but restorative justice or tangible consequences rarely follow such post-match confessions, which does little to alleviate the damage done on the pitch.