‘Shocking’ - Alan Shearer blasts ‘disgraceful’ moment in Newcastle United stalemate vs Crystal Palace

The former striker has had his say on contentious decision in Saturday’s clash.
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Alan Shearer has branded the VAR intervention that denied Newcastle United a decisive winning goal against Crystal Palace as “disgraceful”.

The Magpies were forced to settle for a 0-0 stalemate at St. James’ Park on Saturday afternoon, but will have felt hard done by after a Tyrick Mitchell own goal was ruled out for a perceived foul by Joe Willock on Vicente Guaita in the buildup.

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The strike initially stood before referee Michael Salisbury was advised to take a second look at the incident by his video assistant.

Despite replays seemingly showing that Willock was pushed into the Palace goalkeeper by Mitchell, the referee overturned his original call to disallow the strike - much to the chagrin of Shearer.

Speaking on Match of the Day, the Toon legend said: “It’s shocking, it’s abysmal, it’s disgraceful - whatever word you want to use.

“Willock is actually going to head that ball, so Mitchell shoves him, so he knows that. The referee, Michael Salisbury, this is his seventh game so he’s inexperienced - he actually gets it right. He gives the goal.

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“It’s Lee Mason in VAR who then somehow, bizarrely, tells him, ‘No, you’ve made a howler’. That’s meant to be a howler from the referee. Lee Mason tells him to go to screen, and they only show him these angles, bizarrely enough.

“They don’t show him this angle [Shearer refers to a reverse angle where the shove in Willock’s back is more clearly visible]. I mean, from all angles it’s a foul, but that one - it’s clear, and he doesn’t see that one.

“Lee Mason is the one to blame in this decision because it’s an inexperienced referee.

“At this level, when you’re in the big boys’ league, you’ve got to get that decision right. He [Salisbury] has had no help from the VAR whatsoever.

“VAR is not the problem, it’s the people running it.”