Referee at heart of Newcastle United VAR controversy in charge for Sheffield Wednesday FA Cup tie

Newcastle United face a reunion with a referee at the heart of one of their most controversial moments of the season in Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie at Sheffield Wednesday.

Michael Salisbury has been named as the man in the middle for the Hillsborough meeting, less than four months after he took charge of the Magpies goalless draw in a Premier League home clash with Crystal Palace. That game saw United fall victim to a controversial VAR decision as an own goal by Eagles full-back Tyrick Mitchell was ruled out for a Joe Willock foul on visitors keeper Vicente Guaita.

With the vast majority of those inside St James Park celebrating a breakthrough in the game, VAR official Lee Mason advised Salisbury to review his decision to award the goal and the effort was surprisingly ruled out after the on-field referee ignored what looked like a clear Mitchell push on Willock and adjudged the Magpies midfielder had collided with Guaita.

Speaking after the game, Magpies manager Eddie Howe said: “I disagree with the decision; I thought it should be a goal. I thought Joe was pushed. He is running in and is pushed into the keeper. I am not sure what Joe is supposed to do there. For me it is a perfectly good goal. Without that push, there’s no way Joe would have gone in with that force. So for me, it’s not a foul, if anything, it’s a penalty if it’s not a goal.“You hope it is not one of those days where you get caught by a sucker punch. I have to credit my players for not losing focus and discipline. In terms of effort and the team pulling together it has been really good.”

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) acknowledged an incorrect decision had been made in a statement released just days after the game, saying: “PGMOL acknowledge the incidents to disallow the goals in the Chelsea v West Ham and Newcastle v Crystal Palace fixtures. We will fully co-operate and collaborate with the Premier League and their request to review these two particular incidents, using the outcome as part of the ongoing assessment of weekly performances and the development of our match officials going forward.”

With all eyes now on Saturday’s live televised FA Cup tie against the Owls, it has been confirmed Salisbury - who also oversaw United’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Cambridge United last January - will be assisted by Gary Beswick and Akil Howson, with Ollie Yates on fourth official duties. VAR will not be in operation during the game.