Ben Godfrey studded Takehiro Tomiyasu in the face

The event occurred during Everton’s 2-1 triumph over Arsenal in the first half, with the game still goalless. After watching a video on the VAR monitor, Mike Dean determined that Godfrey had inadvertently trod on Tomiyasu’s face.

Slow-motion footage appeared to show Godfrey not looking at his opponent when he landed, but Neville claims the conduct was deliberate.

On Sky Sports’ coverage of the game, he said: “He means it completely as a professional.

“I can see why VAR said it was an accident; we couldn’t prove it, but he meant it as a professional, and I can see why it wasn’t a red.”

Piers Morgan, an Arsenal supporter, agreed, writing on Twitter: “For maliciously stamping on Tomiyasu’s face, he wasn’t even charged. Godfrey and the referee were both outraged.”

Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey, on the other hand, had a different take on the situation.

He claims that the decision on a probable red card could have gone either way, implying that VAR Stuart Atwell did not believe Dean had made a clear and obvious error.

According to SunSport, Halsey said: “Godfrey and Tomiyasu collided, but I don’t think it deserved a red card.

“Godfrey landed on Tomiyasu’s face while the Arsenal right-back was on the floor.

“I’m not sure if referee Mike Dean witnessed the incident, but VAR official Stuart Attwell had to determine whether it was a violent act.

“I don’t believe it was a stamp; Godfrey seemed to have nowhere else to put his foot.

“It was an unintentional act, not a premeditated one.

“Because this isn’t a severe foul play challenge, excessive force and violence aren’t a factor.

“When Godfrey collided with Tomiyasu, he did not look in the direction of the Gunners’ right-back.

“I can understand why die-hard Arsenal fans would want disciplinary action taken, but this was a subjective decision, and Attwell obviously did not believe Dean had made a clear and obvious error.”