The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel has narrowly backed the VAR decision to disallow Everton striker Thierno Barry’s second-half goal against the Blues at Hall Dickinson Stadium prior to the international break.

Referee Stuart Attwell initially gave the goal but following a review by VAR officials Andrew Kitchen and Josh Smith, the Warwickshire-based official took another look and changed his decision as Brennan Johnson, son of former Blues frontman David, was in an offside position impeding keeper Christian Walton.

The Key Match Incidents Panel viewed the incident the same way as VAR by a margin of three to two, their assessment reading: “The VAR intervention to disallow the goal for interfering with an opponent by Johnson was supported, 3:2.

“Johnson was clearly in an offside position, in very close proximity to the goalkeeper and makes a movement, impacting the goalkeeper’s ability to set and move to the ball. Two panellists felt that Johnson’s position and actions did not impact goalkeeper Walton.”

The decision was widely criticised at the time with many pundits and ex-players arguing that Walton wouldn’t have been able to make a save even without Johnson’s interference.

However, the panel’s report says that’s irrelevant: “The offside law does not require the referee or VAR to determine that the goalkeeper would definitely have saved the shot, only that their ability to play the ball has been impacted.

“In this instance, Johnson's movement and proximity to Walton constitute an offside offence because it affects the goalkeeper’s ability to attempt to play the ball.”

Ultimately, the incident didn’t affect the result of the game with Barry’s first-half goal securing the home side all three points.

The Key Match Incidents Panel also backed the decision to show Blues winger Abdul Fatawu a second yellow and then a red card for simulation, five to zero.

Photo: Matchday Images