Craig Pawson will referee Newcastle United’s Premier League clash with Manchester United.
It’s the first time he’ll take charge of a Toon game this season, but that hasn’t stopped the outrage from Newcastle fans.
That’s because Pawson was the man in charge of VAR on Sunday during our 4-0 defeat to Manchester City.
And in that game, Martin Atkinson failed to award the Magpies a blatant penalty after Ederson wiped out Ryan Fraser in the box.
It was crazy that the referee didn’t point to the spot. It was even crazier that Pawson didn’t inform Atkinson that he’d made a clear and obvious error.
That’s what it was. You’ll never see a more blatant penalty. The fact Joao Cancelo came away with the ball was irrelevant.
It was a comical decision. And it’s even more comical that Pawson has been appointed as the referee for Newcastle’s next game.
It’s a decision that makes no sense. The referee is going to be under immediate pressure from the crowd, who will still be furious by Pawson’s actions last time out.
It was the latest in a string of poor decisions that have gone against Newcastle. First it was the dive by James Maddison that won Leicester a penalty on December 12th. Then it was the trip to Anfield where Mike Dean allowed Liverpool’s first goal to stand despite Isaac Hayden having a head injury. He then failed to award Newcastle a penalty after Trent Alexander-Arnold took out Fraser in the box.
Combine those with the Man City debacle, and it’s no wonder Newcastle have launched a complaint to the Premier League.
Fans are furious about the Pawson decision, and rightly so.
Newcastle fans can’t believe Craig Pawson will referee Man United game
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
