The decision to award a penalty against Newcastle United at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday continues to spark huge debate.
It was a call against Newcastle that has left the likes of Jermaine Jenas fuming, such was the controversy of somehow deciding Tino Livramento was in the wrong for a ball bouncing off his knee and onto his arm.
Indeed, Newcastle players have hit out at the decision, having been robbed of what would have been a famous win for the club at a time when Eddie Howe’s squad has been decimated by injuries.
Now, some insight into Alan Shearer’s live reaction has been shared.
Alan Shearer: Gary Lineker shares Newcastle legend’s reaction to PSG penalty
Indeed, speaking on the Rest is Football Podcast, Gary Lineker let listeners know what happened in a group chat containing Shearer and Micah Richards as the drama was unfolding in the French capital.
“I think it’s very safe to say that Newcastle were robbed last night, Alan. You went very quiet on our group chat apart from one endless rant, with good reason I think,” he said.
Shearer responded: “Gaz, you know I like a good swear every know and again. That was a disgrace. That’s as polite as I can be.
“I can’t work out quite how anyone could see how that was a penalty, it quite clearly came off his leg first and flicked his elbow. It was almost because it was right at the end of the game, they had been getting a lot of stick from the supporters in Paris and whether they were influenced in that I don’t know, but I understand Alan you have been in touch with UEFA this morning.
“I spoke to them this morning and to be fair to them, they were as angry as we were, they were as disappointed as what we were in the decision and they said that the referee and the VAR knew straight away after the game that they had made a huge error and they would no longer be involved in the games this evening [Wednesday] or in the next round of games which are in two weeks’ time, they will be off those games as well. But they won’t be commenting and it was okay for me to say that.”
Newcastle news: What Eddie Howe has said about PSG decision
Even days on, the decision to punish Livramento is still baffling.
Speaking on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Manchester United, Howe said (via Lee Ryder): “Not enough power is given to the on field decision.
“The on field decision should be given more strength.”
Luckily, this is a Newcastle team who do not wallow in their own pity. Even amid a ridiculous injury crisis, they have managed to pull off huge results.
If one team are going to come out and take their frustration out in the best possible way, it is surely this Newcastle outfit.
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