“Fairly speaking…” – Gallagher reveals VAR’s comments on the controversial moment involving Everton against Southampton.
Dermot Gallagher understands why VAR Matt Donohue took extra time to disallow Beto’s goal for Everton in their 1-0 defeat to Southampton.
In their Premier League match against Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on November 2, Everton came close to securing a last-minute equaliser, only to see it disallowed.
The decision involved a controversial offside call on Guinea-Bissau international, with VAR playing a significant role in the outcome.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher discussed the incident on Sky Sports News on November 4, offering insight into the tight decision and the VAR process.
Gallagher remarked, “It’s a really tight call. Initially, I thought he was onside, but with VAR, it’s clear he was just offside.
This is where VAR’s precision makes a difference.”
He noted that the relatively new VAR official wanted to ensure the correct decision was made, taking time to double-check, which added to the four-minute delay.
Gallagher pointed out that, once semi-automated technology becomes available, such decisions will be resolved faster, improving the system’s efficiency.
In the wake of this match, attention has also shifted to Everton’s striker options, with speculation around Beto’s future involvement.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has long been Everton’s primary striker, but his recent inconsistency has led to questions about his role.
Although Calvert-Lewin is capable of being one of the league’s top number nines, he has struggled with injuries and form over the past couple of seasons.
In Everton’s recent games, manager Sean Dyche introduced Beto, whose impact was notable.
His brief appearance against Fulham, for example, resulted in a crucial last-minute goal that prevented Everton from a loss at Goodison Park.
Given both strikers’ recent performances, many fans are wondering if Dyche will soon start Beto over Calvert-Lewin.
Beto’s contributions suggest he offers more dynamic options and goal-scoring potential than Calvert-Lewin has recently.
If he continues to perform well, Everton could be persuaded to rely on him instead of pursuing a costly transfer or extending Armando Broja’s loan.
While it remains speculation at this point, the idea of giving Beto more playing time seems increasingly logical, potentially saving the club on transfer expenses and providing a much-needed boost in their attacking lineup.
