Newcastle have been on the wrong end of some bad decisions in years gone by. Thankfully, things might change with the imminent VAR trial.
Even this season, the Magpies have fell foul of the referee.
Rafa Benitez’s defensive approach was working a treat against Chelsea, with Maurizio Sarri’s side unable to breach the five man defence.
A run from Marcos Alonso saw new signing Fabian Schar lunge to take the ball off the Spaniard, which he did successfully.
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Alonso went to ground, and Schar’s clumsy looking challenge was penalised.
Chelsea took the lead and went on to win the game after scoring from a slightly contentious free kick.
Had VAR been in play, then Newcastle might have got something out of the game, as there is no guarantee that the penalty would have stood.
VAR trial heading to Newcastle
Officials will be using VAR across five Premier League games on September 15th, but fans and players will not see the full affects of the system.
The technology is being trialled to see if the referees’ base at Stockley Park can handle the volume of games, but we won’t see any decisions being changed during the games.
(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
So officials will be casting an eye over Newcastle’s clash with Arsenal, at a ground where the Geordie faithful have seen a fair share of decisions go against them.
Even away from home this season, Newcastle have been hindered by the lack of VAR. Isaac Hayden’s red card was surely the wrong decision against Cardiff. If an extra pair of eyes had saw the incident, then the Magpies might have been able to keep 11 players on the pitch.
Technology has already impacted Newcastle’s season
In the first 10 minutes of their Premier League campaign, Newcastle had seen technology come into play.
Goal-line technology handed Tottenham the lead on the opening day, with Jan Vertonghen’s header going 9mm across the line.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – AUGUST 11: Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
There were no complaints and rightfully so. The ball had crossed the line, and it proved how technology can impact Premier League football.
Do we need VAR?
When used correctly, VAR is a fantastic addition to the game. At the World Cup, we saw the best and the worst of VAR.
With proper training and correct use, VAR will be a welcome addition to the Premier League. Hopefully, the VAR trial is a successful one.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 29: Salomon Rondon of Newcastle United appeals to referee Jeremy Simpson. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)