Anthony Gordon made his feelings on VAR very clear after Newcastle United lost to Manchester United in May 2024.
It was a pivotal defeat in the race for Europe, during the 2023/24 season, and one that Newcastle United probably would have avoided had a key decision gone their way.
Anthony Gordon should have been given a penalty by referee Rob Jones, who is set to officiate West Ham vs Newcastle United on Sunday.
The duo will be reacquainted this weekend, but it was not Jones who Gordon had the issue with after failing to receive a penalty at Old Trafford almost 18 months ago.
Rob Jones’ mistake that sparked Anthony Gordon to slam VAR
Having conceded first courtesy of Kobbie Mainoo, Newcastle United had the chance to quickly hit back through Gordon.
He pounced on a Manchester United mistake, only to be upended in the box by a combination of Sofyan Amrabat and Casemiro.
Replays showed it was clearly a foul and a penalty, but Rob Jones waved away Gordon’s appeals. While that frustrated the Toon winger, surely VAR would rectify the injustice? Incredibly, no.
VAR opted to stick with Jones’ initial decision, as the Magpies went on to lose 3-2. As for Gordon, his ankle was in a bad way following the challenge.
After the game, Gordon spoke to the media. He was visibly furious, but it was not the referee who he was angry with.
“Really sore, not too sure how my ankle will be,” he said when asked about the injury.
“I’ve watched the incident back. It’s a clear penalty. I don’t mind the referee getting it wrong on the pitch because it’s a difficult decision, things happen really quickly. But I don’t understand what the point of VAR is. It’s there to correct mistakes. He goes down my Achilles and pushes me in the back. I honestly don’t see the point in it [VAR].
“I knew straight away, that’s why I didn’t appeal [for a penalty]. I thought I don’t mind the referee not giving it. I’ll wait for the VAR to check. You can see me telling my teammates ‘don’t worry, it’s a clear penalty’. I’ve got no sock left. How can it be possible? I don’t understand the point of it.”
Gordon added: “Get rid of it, or get better.”
Rob Jones has sent Anthony Gordon off before
Gordon has received three red cards in his Toon career, with his most recent one coming in the 3-2 defeat to Liverpool in August.
That came from a moment of madness from Gordon, as he cynically wiped out Virgil van Dijk.
As for his first red card, that came in March 2024 when Newcastle United beat West Ham 4-3 at St James’ Park. Harvey Barnes inspired a dramatic comeback victory, but it ended in disappointment for Gordon.
He was sent off for two yellow cards, with the second being given for kicking the ball away. The man that issued those two bookings was Rob Jones, who forced Gordon to miss a game against his former club Everton just a few days later.
With Gordon set to be refereed by Jones again on Sunday, Newcastle United’s number 10 will be keen to avoid more controversy.
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