No penalty for Bernardo Silva's wrestling hold on Röhl

What happened

With Everton 3-2 up, Bernardo Silva grappled Merlin Röhl to the ground at a corner. Michael Oliver did not see it, and VAR Paul Howard decided the holding happened before the ball was in play. The KMI panel ruled 5-0 that it was a sustained hold that continued as the corner was taken. Jérémy Doku equalised in the 97th minute.

On the pitch

No penalty: play on

VAR

VAR did not intervene

Benefited

MCI Manchester City

Harmed

EVE Everton

Fallout

• It was the third time in 2025-26 that VAR wrongly denied Everton a penalty.

Reaction

• “There is a clear, sustained holding offence which continues as the corner is taken and the ball comes into play.”

  KMI panel · Key Match Incidents panel

• “A free-for-all.”

  David Moyes · Everton manager · source

Sources

• officialEvery VAR and referee error in the 2025-26 Premier League (BBC Sport, via ModernGhana)BBC Sport
• officialEverton were wrongly denied a spot-kick against Manchester CityYahoo Sports
• reportPremier League panel confirms Everton wrongly denied penalty against Man CityTribuna
• analysis2025–26 Premier League table without every official VAR errorSports Illustrated