Match Coverage

Ian Wright says VAR made major blunder during Tottenham vs Newcastle United as he calls for rule change

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Newcastle United’s win over Tottenham on Saturday was relatively controversial.

While that will matter little to Newcastle fans, elements about what happened in north London in the 2-1 victory are likely to be dissected for a short while.

Indeed, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was fuming after the game and declared his side should have won – had all things been “equal”.

Position Team Played MP Won W Drawn D Lost L For GF Against GA Diff GD Points Pts
4 ChelseaChelsea19 10 5 4 38 23 15 35
5 NewcastleNewcastle19 9 5 5 32 21 11 32
6 Man CityManchester City19 9 4 6 32 26 6 31

Though there were a number of flashpoints, the main talking point has to be Anthony Gordon’s goal.

Dominic Solanke had given Spurs an early lead after getting the better of Sven Botman before Gordon equalised not long after. Alexander Isak would then strike to bag what eventually turned out to be the winner.

Gordon’s goal looked to have infuriated the Spurs boss. Lucas Bergvall’s cross appeared to have struck Joelinton on the hand in the build-up to the equaliser but the goal survived a VAR check.

The Premier League’s Match Centre confirmed the Brazilian’s arm was in a natural position, meaning the contact was accidental, therefore meaning the goal was allowed to stand.

Premier League pundit Ian Wright was equally as annoyed after the game.

Ian Wright calls for major change after Newcastle United’s goal against Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur FC v Newcastle United FC - Premier League
Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

Speaking to Optus Sport, Wright suggested it shouldn’t matter if the contact was accidental, such was the size of the advantage Newcastle got from it.

In fact, he called for something in the rules to “change.”

“I cannot understand how a ball hits you on the hand and just because it’s in your proximity and it goes to one of your players and they go and score,” he said.

“I’m not surprised Ange Postecoglou is as angry as he is, how can that not be handball? How can that be fair? It’s hit his hand! It’s an advantage to them! It’s a poor decision whatever anyone says! No one’s going to convince me that that’s not handball, that’s handball for me, whether he meant it or not!

“Something has to change because that doesn’t seem fair. He can’t get his hand out of the way but it’s an advantage to them.”

VAR made another mistake during Newcastle United’s win over Tottenham

Spurs can probably feel fairly harshly done by on that particular occasion. If that had gone against Newcastle, supporters would no doubt be fuming.

Still, VAR may well have missed a Newcastle penalty.

BBC Sport pundit Stephen Warnock believes Howe’s side should have been awarded a spot-kick when Dejan Kulusevski clattered into Gordon in the second-half, which left the England international requiring treatment on a nasty-looking nose injury.