Thursday 7 January 2016 14:54, UK
Everton beat Manchester City 2-1 in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final at Goodison Park on Wednesday night, but the game was marked by two debatable refereeing decisions.
The home side took the lead through Ramiro Funes Mori's strike just before the break, although TV replays seemed to suggest Everton striker Romelu Lukaku was standing in an offside position in the immediate lead-up to the goal.
"At the end of the first half they scored a goal that was absolutely offside," said City head coach Manuel Pellegrini after the match.
The visitors also thought they should have been awarded a 70th-minute penalty when winger Jesus Navas was brought down in the box by Everton midfielder Kevin Mirallas.
However, referee Robert Madley disagreed, although Pellegrini later claimed: "We should have had a clear penalty".
Former referee Dermot Gallagher joined Rob Wotton on Sky Sports News HQ to look back over the controversial calls and discuss whether they were correct or not.
INCIDENT: City goalkeeper Willy Caballero pushes out Ross Barkley's shot from the edge of the area, only for Funes Mori to score from the rebound.
SCENARIO: With Lukaku clearly standing in an offside position and appearing to block Caballero's view of Barkley's effort, the visitors felt Everton's opener should not have stood.
PELLEGRINI'S VIEW: "It was offside. He made the movement and participated in play. It's unbelievable that the referee or linesman didn't see it was offside."
GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Correct decision.
GALLAGHER SAYS: "The new interpretation is whether you're moving towards the ball, which is obviously interfering with play, or whether you're moving towards an opponent. I think on this occasion you can quite clearly see Lukaku's moving away from the ball. He's also moving away from an opponent, so he hasn't impacted on either.
"I think what you see on the pictures is that [assistant referee] John Brooks is aware Funes Mori isn't offside. It's a great call because the defender comes out and keeps him onside. Lukaku is in an offside position, which isn't an offence in itself, and I think at that point Brooks has to trigger Bobby Madley and say: 'Look, Funes Mori is definitely not offside. All I know is that Lukaku is in an offside position. You've got to tell me at what point he is in that game.'
"Bobby Madley's got the perfect line of view. He can see Lukaku moving out of sight of the goalkeeper and I think he's said: 'Yes, I'm happy with that.' In my view it's a really good goal. It's the perfect interpretation of what FIFA asked for in the summer. I think between them, they've come to the right decision.
"The referee has to decide if the player has blocked the 'keeper's vision. I don't think he has because Lukaku's clearly moved to the right-hand side of the field and you see the 'keeper himself has made a great effort to try and catch that ball. I think that tells the story that he can see at that point.
"Last year we had muddy water. FIFA have used the word 'impact' - has the player impacted on the ball, the opponent, has he challenged an opponent? He quite clearly hasn't. Has he gone towards the ball? He quite clearly hasn't. The two officials have made a very good decision between them."
INCIDENT: City wide man Navas latches on to David Silva's through ball, before going over under a challenge from Mirallas in the Everton penalty area.
SCENARIO: With 20 minutes remaining and the scoreline delicately balanced at 1-0 to the Toffees, Navas' heels appear to be clipped by the backtracking Mirallas as the pacy Spain international cuts back on to his left foot.
PELLEGRINI'S VIEW: "It's a foul inside the box. He didn't touch the ball, he touched the legs of Jesus Navas, it's a clear penalty."
GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Incorrect decision.
GALLAGHER SAYS: "I think it's a penalty. Navas has turned back inside - whether Bobby Madley thinks he's lost his footing... It's quite clear Mirallas has caught the back of his ankle. Unfortunately he hasn't seen it and it's got away."
