Man Utd got lucky against Everton after major VAR blunder...

FORMER Premier League whistler Mark Halsey has branded VAR "embarrassing" following Everton's 2-2 draw with Manchester United. The Toffees were denied a last-gasp penalty after a controversial VAR intervention on Saturday afternoon. Ashley Young went down in the box following a shirt pull from Matthijs De Ligt, with referee Andy Madley initially pointing to the spot.

Image Credit: The Sun [Photo of a soccer penalty kick; a player in a red jersey fouls a player in a blue jersey.]

VAR Matt Donohue recommended Madley review his decision - before the WRONG footage was shown on the pitchside monitor. Former Prem ref Halsey told SunSport: "The decision to overturn a penalty awarded to Everton near the end of their 2-2 draw with Manchester United was clearly wrong.

Image Credit: The Sun [Referee reviewing VAR at a soccer match.]

"VAR Matt Donohue should NOT have got involved because referee Andy Madley’s on-field call was in no way a clear and obvious error. "Ashley Young’s shirt was pulled - and when an opponent does that in the penalty area he is asking for trouble. "When Madley went to the monitor on the advice of VAR he was then shown the wrong footage.

Image Credit: The Sun [Referee at a Liverpool F.C. soccer match.]

"The Premier League Match Centre posted on social media that Harry Maguire’s challenge on Young had been checked and that no foul had been committed. "But they failed to take into account that Matthijs de Ligt had pulled Young back by the shirt. BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS.

Image Credit: The Sun [VAR review of a penalty call during a soccer game.]

"And had Madley been shown footage filmed from behind the goal he would have seen this. "The incident was embarrassing.". Everton led 2-0 at half-time thanks to goals by Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure. But United fought back after the break and levelled through Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte.

Relieved Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim claimed the decision not to award a penalty was fair. Amorim said: "No, I think it's a soft touch, it was not [a penalty] from what I saw. "I think it was a soft penalty, that was clear. "If you start the game without the first half, it was a good point, but we needed the three points.".

But fuming Everton manager David Moyes hit out at the officials after his side were denied back-to-back Premier League wins. Moyes fumed: "I can’t understand. [De Ligt] pulled his jersey. "I just thought the referee made the correct decision at the time and he should stick with it.