World-renowned referee blasts UEFA guidance after Newcastle United v PSG 'error'

The Paris Saint-Germain penalty call which robbed Newcastle United of their own little bit of Champions League history went 'against all UEFA guidance'. That's the view of one of the world's most renowned former referees.

Mark Clattenburg has waded in on the debate surrounding Szymon Marciniak and VAR official Tomasz Kwiatkowski's controversial call to award PSG a 96th minute penalty at the Parc des Princes. The spot kick was converted by Kylian Mbappe to cancel out Alexander Isak's first half opener.

The decision arguably robbed the Magpies of their greatest ever European away result - and Geordie Clattenburg, a former World Cup final ref, has been having his say on the incident.

Speaking in the Daily Mail, Clattenburg said: "Newcastle have every right to feel robbed. Kylian Mbappe should never have been gifted the chance to equalise from the penalty spot in the eight minute of stoppage time.

"Szymon Marciniak refereed the 2022 World Cup final, and Tomasz Kwiatkowski was his VAR. They are an experienced pairing and well respected, but this has to go down as one almighty error on their part.

"All we ask is that our referees and VARs are as strong as they are consistent in their decision-making.

"Earlier in this Champions League clash, we saw the ball strike Lewis Miley on the thigh and then bounce on to an arm which was slightly away from his body.

"Kwiatkowski decided against sending Marciniak to his monitor for a review. But then deep into stoppage time, we see an almost identical incident. The ball ricochets off Tino Livramento’s chest and on to his elbow and this time, Kwiatkowski recommends a review by Marciniak.

"While at his monitor, Marciniak is convinced that Livramento's arm is outstretched because of the specific angle that the VAR is showing him. However, the angle from behind the goal, which we all saw on television but the VAR did not show to Marciniak, clearly proves this was not the case.

"Livramento did not make his body bigger. His arm was in a natural position for the movement he was making. He had no time to react to the deflection. This penalty went against all UEFA guidance, and Newcastle paid the price."

'It was hugely frustrating'

Head coach Eddie Howe was respectfully critical of the call in his post-match comments to the press in Paris.

He said: " It was, in my opinion, not the right decision. So many things to take into account. I think the speed first, it was a ricochet that when slowed down looks totally different from the live event.

"The ball hits his chest first then comes up, and hits his hand. I don't think his hand is in an unnatural position. It's done by his side, he's in a running motion. I feel it's a poor decision.

"It was hugely frustrating for us because in that moment because in that moment you know how little time there is left in the game. Nothing we can do about that.

"I have to control myself, that's my job. It doesn't do any good to lose control of what you think and say."