Everton legend Peter Reid admits that the lack of consistency when it comes to refereeing decisions for Blues matches compared to their Premier League rivals is “mind boggling.”

Last month, Michael Keane was sent off for pulling Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Tolu Arokodore’s hair, an act that was deemed to be violent conduct and landed him a three-match suspension. Following the club’s unsuccessful appeal, furious manager David Moyes, who insisted the action was not deliberate, claimed: “The technical part of it nearly makes it impossible to be done.”

However, with his side already 3-0 down to Manchester City in first-half stoppage time at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, cameras caught Fulham’s Kenny Tete tugging on Antoine Semenyo’s locks in an off-the-ball incident at the back post as a cross came into his area. Yet, neither on-field referee, Paul Tierney, or VAR official over at Stockley Park, Neil Davies, decided to punish the Dutchman.

OPINION

Following Keane’s sending off, current PGMOL chief Howard Webb was talking tough in...