Former Premier League referee reveals ‘caveat’ to Newcastle United penalty shocker

A former Premier League referee has weighed in on the Jacob Murphy penalty debate during Newcastle United’s defeat at Chelsea.
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Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has explained why VAR should have advised David Coote to take a second look at the penalty incident involving Jacob Murphy at Chelsea.

Newcastle United had strong appeals for a spot-kick turned down when Murphy was fouled inside the 18-yard box by Trevoh Chalobah on 57 minutes with the game nicely poised at 0-0.

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The decision not to award the Magpies a penalty cost Eddie Howe’s side a point as Kai Havertz broke the deadlock right at the death.

Supporters and pundits alike have been left baffled by the decision, with club legend Alan Shearer branding it “nonsensical” and “pathetic”.

“(It’s a penalty) penalty, Gallagher said, speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch. “Grabs his shirt, trips him, shoves him. I also think there is a caveat for the VAR to send (David Coote to the monitor).

“Their (VAR) feeling was they didn’t feel that the fall was commenced with happened on the field, and I think that’s because they looked at the upper body rather than the lower body.

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“The referee gives a corner, (Trevoh) Chalobah doesn’t play the ball. It should have been a goal kick or a penalty.

“So, by the referee is saying ‘I’ve given a corner’, he’s told everybody he thinks Chalobah has played the ball, so therefore, I feel the VAR could have said ‘he didn’t play the ball, you might want to go and have a look at this’.

“If he had gone and had a look and see what we saw, he would have given a penalty.”

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock was the latest pundit to weight in on what has quickly become a one-sided debate.

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“I couldn’t believe it,” Warnock added. “It’s another case of a referee being let down by the VAR assistant, and that’s the concern.

“Again, we’re saying put the power onto the referees and give them that power to go to the screen but if they’re not going to go to the screen then they need to be backed up by someone in VAR who is strong enough to say that is a penalty.

“It was one of the most clear penalties we’ve seen in the Premier League this season. How it’s not been given is beyond me.”