“It’s Scary…” – Richard Keys Weighs in on Tarkowski Controversy at Everton
Everton Suffer 1-0 Defeat to Liverpool as Tarkowski Stays in the Spotlight
Tarkowski’s Controversial Derby Moment and PGMOL’s Admission
James Tarkowski was Everton’s hero in the reverse fixture at Goodison Park, scoring a dramatic last-minute equalizer against Liverpool.
However, in the recent derby at Anfield, he made headlines for a very different reason.
The defender escaped a red card for a dangerous tackle on Alexis Mac Allister, despite his studs making high contact after winning the ball.
Post-match, PGMOL admitted that Tarkowski should have been sent off, acknowledging yet another officiating error in a high-profile match.
Richard Keys Criticizes PGMOL Over Decision
Following PGMOL’s admission, Richard Keys voiced his frustration over repeated refereeing mistakes. Taking to X, he wrote:
“So the PGMOL have admitted what the rest of the world knew last night – that Tarkowski should have been sent off.
Why are these basic errors happening week after week? Villa should’ve had a pen at Brighton. Why aren’t standards improving? It’s scary how poor our guys are.”
Tarkowski’s challenge resulted in only a yellow card, sparking further debate about refereeing consistency.
Tarkowski’s Unusual Record Remains Intact
Despite the controversy, Tarkowski avoided his first-ever red card, extending an unlikely record.
The 32-year-old has now accumulated 63 yellow cards in his Premier League career without ever receiving a red—tying him with former Southampton midfielder Oriol Romeu for the most yellow cards without a dismissal in league history.
While Tarkowski has been a key player for Everton this season, many believe he was fortunate to stay on the pitch.
His tackle, although making initial contact with the ball, had a dangerous follow-through that could have seriously injured Mac Allister.
As Everton shift focus to their upcoming clash against Arsenal at Goodison Park, all eyes will be on the officiating once again.
