Everton manager Roberto Martinez has blasted referee Mark Clattenburg over a late penalty decision that handed Stoke City all three points in a thrilling encounter at Goodison Park this afternoon.
With the scores tied at 3-3, the sides looked to be heading for a share of the spoils until Clattenburg pointed to the spot in stoppage time after judging that John Stones had brought down Marko Arnautovic in the area.
Martinez was left fuming by the decision, insisting that Stones had touched the ball and that the call was incorrect.
"It's sickening. Obviously it's a really late action in the game," he told Sky Sports News.
"[With] a penalty, as a referee you need to be 100% sure. He didn't give it straight away - he had to think, or to get some confirmation or some help, probably other eyes that are further away from the action. It's unacceptable to see that decision being so wrong and so decisive.
"A 3-3 would have been tough to take, but losing the game after an error from the referee is even more painful."
The result means that the Toffees are left 11th in the Premier League, while Mark Hughes's Stoke leapfrog them into eighth place.
Neil Wilkes
