Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer is not happy after the Magpies’ win over Crystal Palace.
While Newcastle beating Crystal Palace lifted them up to third in the Premier League, the outcome of Wednesday night’s game could have been very different.
With Newcastle United 1-0 up, Oliver Glasner’s team were handed a route back into the game. They were awarded a penalty after Nick Pope collided with Chris Richards in the box, with VAR instructing referee Darren England to take another look.
After a lengthy delay, he pointed to the spot, much to the anger of fans inside St James’ Park.
Fortunately, Nick Pope saved Eberechi Eze’s penalty, while Newcastle went on to score four more goals and win 5-0.
Alan Shearer is furious with VAR after Newcastle United penalty call
While the penalty call ended up having no impact on the game, it could have had Eze been more clinical from 12 yards.
Regardless, it was a farcical decision. It certainly was not a clear and obvious error by the referee, meaning there was no reason for VAR to get involved.
That is the view of Alan Shearer, who launched a passionate rant about the incident on the latest episode of The Rest Is Football podcast.
“Here’s my rant,” he said.
“It could have been so different, because they go 1-0 up and VAR thinks it’s a wise idea to send the referee to the screen.
“He stands there… The anger from the crowd because he’s standing there for two-and-a-half or three minutes, looking at what is meant to be a clear and obvious error. Do me a favour, man. Seriously.
“If you’ve got to stand there for two or three minutes and show them 2,000 angles of an incident. It’s not clear and obvious. Get it right. No one is enjoying watching officials stand there for two or three minutes. It’s not obvious if they have to do that.”
Shearer added: “It was a shambles of a penalty from Eze. One of the worst you’ll ever see.”
Mark Clattenburg agrees with Alan Shearer
Shearer is spot on, and his view is shared by former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg.
He spoke to Geordie Boot Boys after the incident, with Clattenburg admitting he was surprised by the decision to award Crystal Palace a penalty.
“I was very surprised like many people that a penalty was awarded for a challenge by Pope on Richards,” he said.
“Pope comes a long way to challenge for the ball and does not make any contact with the ball. There are other players challenging for the same ball.
“This type of challenge does not usually result in a penalty and I was very surprised the VAR deemed this a clear and obvious error of the referee.
“This is a decision that should stay on the field of play and not result in a slow-motion replay.”
Newcastle United will be grateful that the decision did not cost them. Eze’s penalty was terrible, resulting in an easy save for Pope. He atoned for his error and kept his seventh clean sheet of the season in all competitions.
The Magpies’ next game is against Aston Villa on Saturday evening. Jarred Gillett will referee the game at Villa Park, while Michael Salisbury is on VAR duty.
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