Howard Webb letter written as Everton search for answers.

In a letter, the Everton Fans Forum begged the head of the professional refereeing body to assist them in comprehending why the team had been involved in so many controversial rulings.

A well-known Everton fan club has called for an explanation about the contentious choices that have plagued the team this year.

In an effort to get more information about the rationale behind a number of controversial, expensive calls that have gone against the Blues, the Everton Fans Forum has written to the official refereeing organization. They have also demanded complete openness and the release of the audio recordings of the discussions surrounding the decisions in which VAR has stepped in.

The letter follows the latest decision to go against Everton – the red card shown to Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the FA Cup at Crystal Palace this week. Everton have lodged an appeal against the decision, which threatened to end the club’s cup exploits and will see a key player suspended for three games at an important time of the season.

The forum made clear that, while it was writing from a backdrop of concern over the treatment of Everton, much of the frustration it is seeking to raise is shared by supporters of other clubs too, adding: “In essence, the way matches are officiated is having a negative impact on the enjoyment and love for our game.”

The forum has addressed its concerns to former Premier League referee Howard Webb, who is the chief refereeing officer of the Professional Game Match Officials Board.

“We have seen a number of decisions made by referees against Everton Football Club over the past few months that we believe are not consistent with officiating seen in other matches,” the supporters’ group stated.

The Everton Fans Forum believes that this is the appropriate moment to get in touch with you about it in order to voice our concerns and get answers from you and the referees who were involved in the judgments.

We understand how challenging it may be to officiate football games in a setting as well-known as the Premier League and FA Cup. However, we demand excellent standards of officiating with consistent and open decision-making due of this high visibility.

The letter asks for explanations to be provided over a series of high-profile decisions. They include:

• Michael Keane’s disallowed goal against Fulham in August.
• Ibrahima Konate not being shown a second yellow in the Merseyside derby
• The decision not to award a penalty for a shirt pull on Amadou Onana at Tottenham Hotspur, and the call to disallow an Everton goal in the same game despite the on-field officials not highlighting any concern
• The penalty awarded against Onana for handball against Manchester City
• The sending off of Calvert-Lewin, and the later decision not to award a penalty when Beto was held in the Crystal Palace box.

For each incident the forum has provided corresponding examples in other games this season in which conflicting calls have been made by the officials, including when VAR has intervened.

It added: “Although the grievances listed within this letter are from Evertonians, as the Everton Fans’ Forum, fans of all clubs

are expressing similar issues. In essence the way matches are officiated is having a negative impact on the enjoyment and love

for our game… As fans, all we ask for is consistency in decision making in every game, regardless of the team that is playing.

We don’t think the judgments being made on Everton are right or compatible with other decisions.

Regarding the Calvert-Lewin red card, the group continued, “It seems the only people who thought the incident a sending off

were the VAR officials, who were then reviewed by the match referee. As mentioned, we ask that you distribute the audio and explanation.

the rationale for each of these Everton-related actions and guarantee that we will begin to notice distinct patterns in what is and

isn’t penalized in order to provide equal opportunities for all Premier League teams.

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