Everton Boss Frank Lampard Finally Receives Personal Phone Call Apology Over Rodri Handball

• Frank Lampard was furious with the referee’s failure to award Everton a penalty during their 1-0 loss to Manchester City
• Having fended off City attacks for most of the encounter, Phil Foden found the back of the net for Pep Guardiola’s side with eight minutes left on the clock
• Desperate for an equaliser, Everton continued to attack and a handball by Rodri was not spotted by the referee and VAR official

Everton manager Frank Lampard felt his side were robbed following their 1-0 loss to Manchester City in an English Premier League clash on Saturday evening, Express reports.

The Toffees matched Pep Guardiola’s men in all departments of the encounter at Goodison Park but a lack of concentration saw Phil Foden get the only goal of the game in the 82nd minute.

Desperate for an equaliser, Lampard’s men continued their search for a goal and should have been rewarded with a penalty after the ball came off Rodri's arm.

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Center referee Paul Tierney failed to spot the incident and VAR official Chris Kavanagh had the chance to get his colleague correct that with a VAR.

After the review, Kavanagh told Tierney to continue with the game which upset Lampard who immediately demanded an apology. After the game, Lampard said:

"We’ve lost a point by a professional who can’t do his job right. It’s incompetence at best. At worst, who knows? That’s Chris Kavanagh. It’s completely on Chris.

"The referee [Paul Tierney] on the day knows it was a penalty. [But] he couldn’t see it.

"The decision is incredible, incredible that loses us the opportunity to get what we deserved. It wouldn’t have needed more than five seconds to know it was a penalty. He should have told the referee to give it or to look at it."

ESPN reports that Mike Riley, the general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), which oversees all refereeing in England, personally called Everton chairman Bill Kenwright and manager Frank Lampard to apologise and admit a mistake had been made by the VAR.

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Sports Brief earlier reported that Man City are still topping the Premier League standings after match week 27 with 66 points.

City restored their six-point lead at the top following their 1-0 vital win over Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, February 26.

Man United complete the top four slots with 47 points despite their goalless draw with Watford at Old Trafford.