PGMOL confirm incorrect Newcastle United decision after Tottenham Hotspur incident

Brentford boss Thomas Frank says he has received confirmation that Newcastle United’s winning penalty last weekend shouldn’t have been awarded.

The Bees lost 1-0 at St James’ Park following Callum Wilson’s 64th-minute spot-kick and Frank was left miffed at the decision having been on the wrong end of a similar incident during their opening day 2-2 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

Anthony Gordon went to ground under a challenge from goalkeeper Mark Flekken to which referee Craig Pawson pointed to the spot following a quick consultation with his assistant.

Frank said after the game he expected an apology from PGMOL chief Howard Webb. However, while he was unable to speak with Webb, the Dane did talk to Jon Moss of the same organisation.

A ‘key match situations’ booklet later confirmed the officials had reached the wrong decision, according to Frank.

“For various reasons, I felt I had to raise the question after the game against Newcastle,” said Frank said on Friday. “It was not possible to get hold of Howard Webb this week for one reason or another but I spoke to Jon Moss from the PGMOL and had a good conversation.

“What everyone wants, is we raise the level and the consistency from the refs. I think they are very big on that and they are working very hard on that. The level is going in the right direction.

“We just got this key match situations (booklet) from the game, we get that every week (and it explains) if it is a correct on-field decision or if VAR got it. They actually said it was incorrect the on-field decision, as I understood it, but the VAR was correct because it was not a clear and obvious error.

“For me it was just a frustrating thing that a very tight game is decided by a borderline decision from the assistant referee. Hey, that happens and we move forward. They will learn, we learn.”

Despite Frank’s complaints, there’s an argument to say Brentford still should have lost after Wilson saw an earlier goal ruled out for a soft foul on Flekken.