“I Think He’s Onside”: Mike Dean’s Notable Comment During VAR Review of Beto’s Disallowed Everton Goal

After a promising turnaround under Sean Dyche, Everton is once again struggling, marked by two disappointing performances.

Allowing Southampton 66% possession, especially when they were at the bottom of the table and lacking confidence, highlights Everton’s ongoing issues.

A concerning statistic for Everton this season has been their average possession in the Premier League, where they rank the lowest of any team.

This lack of control has hurt their performances and overall effectiveness on the pitch.

In their recent game, VAR became a hot topic after Beto’s late equalizer was ruled out by a razor-thin offside decision.

Adding to the debate, former referee Mike Dean, now working with Sky Sports, commented on the decision during the VAR check, saying he believed it looked onside.

Dean’s remarks drew attention, as it’s unusual for offside decisions to stir such controversy.

The decision, which came in the 90th minute, was so close that even Dean, after watching replays, felt Beto might be onside, saying, “I think he is just onside, me. I think he will just be on.”

This situation illustrates the contentious nature of VAR, especially with its impact on goals in cases where calls are so close that even professionals find them hard to judge.

Dean’s comments suggest how challenging and perhaps overly strict VAR can feel, especially when such tiny margins lead to decisive calls against players.

The era where strikers received the benefit of the doubt is seemingly over, with players now being flagged offside for minute infractions like a toe over the line.

While it’s not to say Beto’s goal should have stood, for a former referee like Dean to see replays and think it’s onside speaks volumes about the frustrations with VAR.

These marginal calls, without the clear luxury of drawing lines for viewers, remain a source of frustration, especially as they affect pivotal game moments and outcomes.