Controversial VAR Penalty Decision Denies Newcastle Famous Win over PSG: How Did That Happen?
Controversial VAR penalty decision denies Newcastle United a historic victory over PSG in an intense match, leaving fans disappointed with yet another questionable call
Newcastle United missed out on a historic away victory against Paris Saint-Germain when the French team earned a last-minute penalty due to a contentious VAR call. Despite Alexander Isak's 24th-minute goal giving them a lead of 1-0, PSG relentlessly attacked the Newcastle goal in the second half, but were unable to score.
In the fifth minute of injury time, Ousmane Dembélé attempted to advance past Tino Livramento inside the Magpies box, resulting in significant penalty appeals from the PSG squad. Referee Szymon Marciniak, typically regarded as one of the top European officials, promptly consulted the pitch-side monitor to review the replays. The footage revealed that Dembélé had kicked the ball into Livramento's chest from close range, causing it to then bounce off the arm of the Newcastle defender.
Its likely that most fans watching will have expected Marciniak to run back onto the pitch and wave away the PSG appeals, but instead he signaled for a penalty kick.
Polish referee Szymon Marciniak awarded the penalty after being recommended by the VAR to view the pitchside monitor.
Alain Jocard/AFP/Getty Images
"I can't believe he's given it," exclaimed TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher. "How on earth has he made that call?"
Co-commentator Ally McCoist chimed in, "That's a complete mess. It's just not acceptable."
"If thats a penalty kick, we might as well give the game up. Thats nonsense. Nonsense. If hes the best ref in the business - and he probably is - how can he give that?"
Kylian Mbappé confidently scored a penalty to secure a crucial 1-1 draw for PSG, preventing their fate from slipping out of their control. The outcome left Newcastle's players and the thousands of traveling fans heartbroken. Following the match, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe expressed that he was still struggling to accept the decision to give PSG a penalty.
After the game, Howe told TNT Sports that he felt deflated yet very pleased with the players' performance. "We were lucky at times, but I believe we earned that and our luck ran out at the end because I didn't think it was a penalty," he said. "When watching the replay, it's important to consider how fast the ball was in real time and that it first hit his chest - I think that's crucial. Even if it had hit his hand first, I still don't think it would be a penalty due to the close proximity, but there would be a stronger case."
"I dont think there is a case when it hits another body part first and his hands are low."
Kylian Mbappé converted the penalty to earn PSG a draw.
Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images
Marciniak bizarrely didn't award PSG a penalty earlier in the match when the ball bounced off Lewis Miley's leg and hit his arm, showing a lack of consistency not only across matches, but also within the same match.
After a UEFA meeting in April, the governing body of European football proposed several suggestions to the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the organization that establishes the laws of football. One of the suggestions was to not penalize players for handball if the ball had previously deflected off a player's own body.
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The current IFAB rule book does not specifically mention deflections off a player's body, but it does state that a penalty should be awarded if a player "is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger [with] the position of their hand/arm."
CNN has contacted UEFA for a statement. Borussia Dortmund's 3-1 victory over AC Milan has secured their spot in the knockout stages. However, with only two points separating PSG, Milan, and Newcastle, all three teams still have the chance to make it to the last 16. If Paris wins, Mbappé and his team will advance to the knockout stage.
Dortmund hosts PSG in Group Fs final gameweek, while Newcastle welcomes Milan.
