Hackett identifies two refereeing errors as United settle for Everton draw

Manchester United were held to a 2-2 draw at Everton in a Premier League match that generated four significant refereeing controversies, with ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett subsequently ruling that referee John Brooks got two of those decisions wrong.

The most debated moment came when Brooks waved away a penalty appeal after James Tarkowski challenged Matheus Cunha from behind in the second half. Sky Sports co-commentator Lee Hendrie backed the decision, saying Tarkowski “just gets complete purchase on the ball” and called it “outstanding defending,” though he acknowledged it was a risky challenge. VAR reviewed the incident and cleared it.

The match itself produced a dramatic finish. Bryan Mbeumo’s opener was cancelled out by Tyrique George’s thumping 83rd-minute strike, before Benjamin Sesko headed what appeared to be a United winner — only for Ainsley Maitland-Niles to smash home a stunning last-minute equaliser for the hosts.

Despite the late chaos, Hackett’s focus fell on two earlier yellow card incidents he believes Brooks mishandled. The first involved Everton’s Thierno Barry, who went to ground appealing for a penalty. Hackett argued Brooks not only got the non-penalty call right but should have gone further: “The player, Barry, went to ground far too easily and he is lucky that he did not receive a yellow card for his clear act of simulation.”

The second error, in Hackett’s assessment, concerned United’s Diogo Dalot pulling Tyrique George’s shirt to stop a promising attack. “Dalot pulled his opponent’s shirt stopping a promising attack,” Hackett said. “John Brooks really should at that point issue a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.” Dalot was eventually booked later in the game for the same offence on Jack Grealish, suggesting Brooks recognised the pattern — but too late, according to Hackett.

The point leaves United without a win in a fixture that, had the Cunha penalty been awarded, could have looked very different.