Joe Gelhardt’s Post Goes Viral After ‘Cheat’ Chants as Everton Fans Explode Over Disallowed Brennan Johnson Goal

Joe Gelhardt has sparked a social media storm after scoring against Everton, with his post-match comments attracting attention amid growing frustration over Brennan Johnson’s controversial disallowed goal.

The Hull City striker, who has family and friends supporting Everton, admitted he enjoyed winding them up after finding the net in Hull’s 2-2 draw with the Toffees at the MKM Stadium.

However, while Gelhardt celebrated a memorable moment, Everton supporters were left furious over the VAR decision that denied their side a goal, with the phrase “subjective offside” becoming a major talking point after the match.

### Gelhardt’s Post Sparks Reaction From Everton Fans

Gelhardt has strong personal connections to Merseyside. Born and raised in the area, the Hull City forward grew up supporting Liverpool and even had a trial with Everton when he was nine years old.

But those connections did not stop him from enjoying his goal against the Toffees.

After scoring a superb chip over Jordan Pickford to give Hull the lead, Gelhardt revealed that he had extra motivation because of his Everton-supporting relatives and friends.

“I’ve got a lot of family and friends who are Everton fans. It was nice to score and taunt them a little bit,” he said.

His comments quickly attracted attention online, with supporters reacting to his playful admission.

Yet the discussion soon extended beyond Gelhardt’s celebration. Everton fans were also expressing their anger over the decision to disallow Brennan Johnson’s goal, which they believe cost their team a crucial advantage.

### Why Was Brennan Johnson’s Goal Disallowed?

The major controversy arrived in the 34th minute, when Everton appeared to take the lead through Johnson.

After Harrison Armstrong’s effort was cleared off the line, Johnson scrambled the ball into the net. The Everton players and travelling supporters initially celebrated what looked like an important breakthrough.

However, VAR intervened, sending referee Michael Salisbury to the pitchside monitor to review the incident.

Following the review, Salisbury overturned the original goal decision, with Johnson judged to have been in an offside position and to have interfered with an opponent.

The Premier League Match Centre explained:

“After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to Everton — with Johnson in an offside position and deemed to be challenging an opponent for the ball.”

The explanation added that Everton’s No. 22 was in an offside position and challenged Hull’s No. 3, resulting in the final decision of offside.

Although the officials considered the decision correct under the rules, the explanation did little to calm the frustration among Everton supporters.

### David Moyes Questions the Meaning of ‘Subjective Offside’

Everton manager David Moyes was particularly unhappy with the terminology used to explain the decision.

The Toffees boss struggled to understand the description of the incident and questioned whether supporters could reasonably be expected to make sense of the wording.

“Subjective offside, I think is the word. Which I don’t know what that actually means,” Moyes said.

He continued:

“I don’t know what subjective offside is, and I don’t think any of you do either.”

Moyes also pointed to another disallowed goal from the previous week and called for greater clarity over how such decisions were being reached.

“We had a goal ruled out last week as well. I’d like to see the lines drawn just to see if they’ve got it right. My feeling is it’s probably just offside, but I don’t understand the wording,” he added.

His comments reflected a wider frustration with the language used to explain VAR decisions, particularly when the distinction between being in an offside position and actively interfering with an opponent can determine whether a goal stands.

### Former Assistant Referee Defends the Decision

Despite the criticism, former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann backed the officials and described the intervention as correct.

Cann explained that Johnson’s position when the original shot came in was central to the decision. He also argued that Johnson’s subsequent challenge with Hull defender Ryan Giles meant the forward had interfered with an opponent.

“Brennan Johnson was in an offside position when the shot came in. Johnson then challenged Hull City’s Ryan Giles and therefore in law was interfering with an opponent. An excellent and correct intervention from VAR Tim Wood,” Cann said.

His assessment provides the other side of the debate.

While Everton supporters focused on the apparent goal and the frustration of having it overturned, Cann’s explanation centred on the offside law and the impact Johnson’s involvement had on an opposing player.

That distinction is at the heart of the controversy. A player does not automatically commit an offside offence simply by occupying an offside position; the officials must also determine whether the player becomes actively involved in the relevant phase of play.

For Everton fans, however, the explanation has not ended the argument.

### Gelhardt Enjoys a Personal Milestone

Away from the VAR controversy, the draw represented a significant moment for Gelhardt.

The Hull forward scored his first Premier League goal in more than four years, giving him a memorable occasion against a club with which he has personal connections.

After two successful loan spells, Gelhardt joined Hull permanently in the summer and has quickly established himself as a popular figure at the MKM Stadium.

His goal against Everton was therefore important both for Hull and for the striker himself.

His admission that he wanted to taunt his Everton-supporting family and friends added another layer to the story, turning an already dramatic match into a talking point beyond the final score.

For Hull supporters, Gelhardt’s celebration was a moment to enjoy. For Everton fans, his comments came against the backdrop of a frustrating afternoon in which they felt a potentially decisive goal had been taken away.

### What the Result Means for Everton and Hull

The 2-2 draw left Everton fifth in the Premier League with 10 points, according to the supplied report, while Hull continued their unbeaten home run following their return to the top flight.

For Moyes, the result will feel like an opportunity missed, particularly given the disallowed Johnson goal and the chances Everton failed to convert.

For Hull, earning a point against Everton continued their encouraging home form and provided another reason for supporters to celebrate their side’s performances.

Gelhardt’s goal was a personal highlight, but the match will also be remembered for the debate surrounding VAR and the interpretation of offside.

### The Verdict: Was Everton Robbed of a Goal?

Gelhardt’s post-match comments have attracted attention, but the bigger talking point remains the decision to disallow Johnson’s goal.

Moyes has questioned the terminology used to explain the incident, while Cann believes the officials correctly applied the offside law.

Both reactions highlight the continuing challenge facing football authorities: explaining complex decisions in a way that supporters can understand, especially when those decisions have a direct impact on the scoreline.

Everton fans may feel aggrieved, but the central question is whether Johnson’s challenge on Giles amounted to interfering with an opponent under the laws of the game.

That is the issue supporters will continue to debate long after the final whistle.

What do you think? Was Brennan Johnson’s goal correctly ruled out, or should Everton have been allowed to take the lead? And did Joe Gelhardt have every right to celebrate by winding up his Everton-supporting family and friends?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.