Premier League make Newcastle United official decision after 'scandalous' claim & Nottingham Forest complaint

The Premier League has confirmed the match officials for Burnley versus Newcastle United this afternoon (kick-off 3pm). It’s an important match for both teams at Turf Moor with the home side looking to bolster their survival hopes, while Eddie Howe’s men are in the race for European qualification.

And overseeing the fixture is Anthony Taylor, fresh from refereeing the Champions League semi-final tie between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. Taylor will referee his fourth Magpies match of the campaign, with all three of the previous matches subject to contentious penalty calls.

Taylor was last in charge of United’s 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest in February. The hosts felt they were denied a penalty when Taiwo Awoniyi went to ground under challenges from Sven Botman and Martin Dubravka with the score at 2-2.

Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo said: “We should have had a penalty. I saw the replay over and over again. When you have the chance to see it on VAR, it's so obvious and that's why I don't understand [the decision]. I think [it's the defining moment] because we came from behind twice and that was a chance to take the lead. That was a decisive moment for sure.”

On New Year’s Day, Taylor awarded Liverpool a penalty after Diogo Jota went down inside the penalty area following minimal contact from Dubravka. Newcastle were beaten 4-1 at Anfield but the decision to award the spot-kick was heavily criticised by Alan Shearer and Ian Wright.

And last October, Taylor awarded Newcastle a penalty in the 2-2 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers after Fabian Schar was adjudged to have been fouled by Hwang Hee-chan. Wolves boss Gary O'Neil labelled the decision as “scandalous”.

“There wasn’t a penalty in the first half. Scandalous decision, terrible on-field decision and terrible VAR didn’t intervene. I thought they got it badly wrong.

“[Hwang] has a big touch for the penalty and then goes to clear the ball but makes such minimal contact with Schar, hardly any, a glance of the boot. Schar is already on the way down and the ball actually hits Channy before he makes contact with Schar so he gets the ball before he makes contact - that’s why it was a terrible decision.”

Taylor will be assisted by Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn with Tom Bramall as fourth official. John Brooks will be the VAR, assisted by Nick Greenhalgh.