Everton will be without Brazilian midfielder Allan for two important Premier League fixtures after their red card appeal was twice rejected. The Toffees midfielder was originally awarded a yellow card for scything down Allan Saint-Maximin but VAR overturned the decision and recommended a red be shown.
Frank Lampard's side move three points clear of the drop, but fellow relegation rivals Burnley have two games in hand and are set to face the Blues, a game which Allan will now miss.
In a statement, Everton FC said: "Allan’s three-match suspension has been upheld after an independent regulatory commission rejected two appeals from Everton over the midfielder’s dismissal against Newcastle United on Thursday. Allan was initially booked for an 83rd-minute challenge on Newcastle’s Allan Saint-Maximin during Everton’s 1-0 victory at Goodison Park but, following a VAR check, the Brazilian was given a red card for serious foul play.
"Everton’s request to overturn that decision was rejected on Friday by the commission, as was a second appeal to downgrade the ban for excessive punishment. The decision means Allan will miss Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final tie at Crystal Palace and next month’s Premier League trips to West Ham United and Burnley."
Despite Everton's appeals, former Premier League referee Dermott Gallagher believes VAR made the right decision. Speaking to Sky Sports, Gallagher said: "I think it falls under on-field yellow card.
"We've got to accept now that there's a new layer of scrutiny and that layer of scrutiny is look at each and every tackle and what they've done. When you look at that tackle, as the VAR shows it, you see the image of Allan with both feet off the ground flying through the air, because it's freeze-framed at that point.
"The other thing they focus on is the point of contact and again you wouldn't spot this on the field, but the point of contact they say is just above the ankle. They've made a conscious decision, this season, that contact with studs above the ankle is going to be a red card. I can understand Craig Pawson's yellow card but I think most people, if a yellow card had just been given they would have accepted that. But, as I say, with this extra layer of scrutiny, I think Allan has paid the price for VAR."
VAR has come under plenty of scrutiny in recent weeks, none more so than from Newcastle's camp. The Magpies have already written to officials to explain a number of decisions that have gone against Eddie Howe's side, and the denial of a stonewall penalty, and possible red card at Chelsea will not have made relations any better.
Gallagher was then asked about the lack of consistency from VAR this season. He said: "Consistency has to be consistently right, what we said on Ref Watch on Monday night was Robert Sanchez's [foul on Luis Diaz] was a red card, so Stuart Atwell has moved on and learnt from that and given a red card. That consistency going forward has to be getting it right. Luke Ayling's wasn't a good challenge and on another day it may well have got a red card."
In the aftermath of Allan's sending off, Blues boss Lampard suggested an independent panel who would work as VAR. "We're already in a transitional period of that," said Gallagher. "We've already got a specialist VAR, or dedicated VARs like Lee Mason. As referees retire, to see if they can go into that role - it's an evolving process.
"What you have to remember is that when it came in two years ago it was all new and the workforce they had was the referees. It's transitioning and it'll move forward."
