Merlin Rohl a 'lucky boy' as ex-PGMOL chief re-analyses Tottenham-Everton 'red card' incident

Merlin Rohl was fortunate not to be sent off during Everton's defeat to Tottenham, but Michael Oliver wasn't in the wrong either.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that decisions on the Toffees' No.34's challenge on Micky van de Ven were completely subjective.

In the 20th minute, despite a free-kick being awarded to David Moyes' side, Spurs' star centre-back was left in agony on the floor, with replays showing Rohl leaving a high, studs-up challenge on him.

Supporters at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium were absolutely furious, but with Joao Palhinha scoring the only goal of the game, it was not a moment that changed the outcome of the game, sadly for the Toffees.

Michael Oliver not wrong, but Merlin Rohl fortunate

Van de Ven led the Lilywhites over the line to victory on Sunday, 24 May, saving them from an embarrassing relegation, but the defender could have come off much worse thanks to the foul on him.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: I support the referee on this one. First of all, I think it's at most a reckless challenge. But of course, VAR is unable to come in and say to the referee, 'It's a yellow card'.

"He can only come in if he thinks and believes it's a red card. I think, like me, they looked at the sequence. Two players come in, I think the player has cleared the ball, I think he's played it first. It's a tight one. 

"All games are not the same. People will say all games are the same, but they're not. With the consequences of a major decision, you've got to be 100 per cent, and I think in this one it might have been 98 per cent.

"This is not going to be a hundred referees saying this was the right decision. This is a sort of 'You lucky boy. You've escaped'. But again, I think this is the speed at which you can look at it, the way you slow it down. I can justify it red. No question about that."

Could Everton already be looking to sell their No.34?

Everton have now completed a £17million deal for Rohl following his season-long loan at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but it has certainly been an underwhelming year for him.

The attacker only has one goal in 17 appearances to show for his first season on Merseyside, and many feel that the club have already wasted money, having put an obligation to buy clause in his contract.

With his move now permanent, Everton could look to sell Rohl, but finding another club that wants to sign him is going to be the trickiest part. He hasn't exactly sold himself in the Premier League.

A red card against Spurs would have been another blow to his first year in England. Thankfully, the referee stuck with his original decision of Van de Ven committing a foul before his studs-up challenge.