Newcastle United’s bid for a historic away victory against Paris Saint-Germain was dashed after a dramatic late penalty awarded by VAR in a controversial decision.
Despite holding a 1-0 lead from Alexander Isak’s goal in the 24th minute, the Magpies faced intense pressure from PSG in the second half. However, the Parisians struggled to equalize until the closing moments.
In injury time, Ousmane Dembélé’s attempt to maneuver past Tino Livramento inside Newcastle’s box ended in a contentious penalty call. Referee Szymon Marciniak, renowned among Europe’s top officials, reviewed the footage, showing Dembélé kicking the ball into Livramento’s chest, which then deflected onto the defender’s arm.
The decision to award a penalty left commentators stunned. Darren Fletcher from TNT Sports exclaimed disbelief, questioning the basis for the penalty decision. Ally McCoist echoed the sentiment, calling it a “shambles” and expressing disbelief in the referee’s call.
Kylian Mbappé capitalized on the penalty opportunity, securing a crucial 1-1 draw for PSG. The result prevented a loss that would have compromised Paris Saint-Germain’s chances of advancing, but it shattered Newcastle’s hopes and disappointed their traveling fans.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe expressed his dismay over the penalty decision, emphasizing that the live speed of the game and the ball hitting Livramento’s chest before his arm were crucial factors. Howe felt Newcastle’s luck ran out at the end, believing the penalty call lacked justification.
Interestingly, earlier in the match, Marciniak did not award PSG a penalty when the ball rebounded off Lewis Miley’s leg onto his arm. This highlighted inconsistencies not only across matches but also within the same game.
Amidst such controversial decisions, UEFA proposed suggestions to IFAB, suggesting exemptions for handballs resulting from a deflection off a player’s body. The current IFAB rulebook emphasizes penalties for handballs if a player deliberately enlarges their body with their hand/arm position.
With Borussia Dortmund securing a 3-1 win over AC Milan, the race in Group F remains tight, with only two points separating PSG, Milan, and Newcastle. The final gameweek holds crucial matches, with Dortmund facing PSG and Newcastle hosting Milan, determining the teams advancing to the knockout stages.
