Norwich City manager Daniel Farke has accused Allan of diving to win a penalty he did not believe should have been awarded while also insisting that Everton should have been reduced to 10 men in their 2-0 victory over his side.
Daniel Farke complained: “It was definitely the wrong decision to overturn this situation. Before the season started it was said ‘once a player tries to use a situation, a straight leg for example, in order to create a penalty, or when he has no chance to even create a chance, this penalty is never given.’ This is exactly such a situation. It was not even a chance. Allan put the ball more or less for a goal kick for us, realising that the ball was too far away and then used the leg of Ozan Kabak, which was a bit too high in the air, to dive over this leg, and go down. The referee had the right decision, he felt this, and just pointed for a goal kick, he had a perfect position. He rightly pointed for a goal kick and I was disappointed that VAR overturned it and for the referee to re-watch the situation. Of course if you watch a game on a screen, in slow motion, not at normal speed, and then you also have the pressure of the whole stadium that wants a penalty then it’s not an easy situation for the referee and I’m disappointed he overturned it. My initial thought was ‘it’s not even a chance’ but he’s an experienced player (Allan) and perhaps you have to do this in order to use these moments for your team. But as a referee you have to judge it in the right way and on the pitch I think he judged it right and to overturn it was definitely the wrong decision.”
Farke also reckons Everton captain Lucas Digne should have been sent off. The France international – who had already been booked for pulling back Max Aarons – was penalised for a handball in between the hosts’ two goals but Coote took no further action.
Daniel Farke said: “For me there was a key moment that there was no yellow or red card for given for Lucas Digne in the second half. We were chasing the game, and I think it was definitely a handball. He also avoided a really dangerous cross for us and I think it should be a yellow or red card. If you are then chasing a game and you’re one man overload and have 20-25 minutes to go it would have changed the outcome.”