Former top referee Dermot Gallagher rules on this controversial Newcastle v Spurs incident

Dermot Gallagher reviews controversial decisions in the Premier League after each round of games, on behalf of Sky Sports.

The former top referee has now given his call on this incidents in the Newcastle v Spurs match.

Dermot Gallagher looking at what happened during a key moment in this match at St James’ Park.

Newcastle United and Spurs in a game not without incident…

This Premier League match ending Newcastle 2 Spurs 2 after somehow getting through 70 minutes without a goal for United.

Dermot Gallagher talking to Sky Sports about this Newcastle v Spurs controversial incident:

INCIDENT:

Rodrigo Bentancur appeared to drag Dan Burn to the ground in the area.

Referee Thomas Bramall didn’t give anything on the field and play continued.

VAR then intervened and sent the referee to the monitor. Bramall went over and reversed his decision to award the penalty which Newcastle scored.

Dermot Gallagher:

“Just before the corner came in, Thomas Bramall went to the two players and said to Bentancur ‘you’re facing the wrong way.

“He’s told them. Now if I was that referee, when I go back to my position, that’s who I’d be focused on.

“Clubs were warned about players not facing the ball, which he never is. There’s no doubt about it and he runs the risk of giving a penalty away.

“The referee is focused on those players – you have to think that because he’s made that decision.

“So you would think he’s seen that and thinks it’s not a penalty. The VAR then looks and says ‘is it a clear and obvious error?’

“They’re grappling and he [Bentancur] is not looking at the ball. The referee clears it, the VAR says no and the referee goes to the screen, where he sees something he didn’t see in the match.

“That’s a mystery to me – why he identifies that and then ignores it.

“That to me is everything… that’s what the catalyst was. It all panned out from there. He never looks at the ball and he was told.

“It’s a problem because he [Bentancur] has put himself in a vulnerable position and the referee has been alerted and acted on it.

“If a referee is sent to the screen, VAR has to think it’s a clear and obvious error.

“You’re then thinking in your mind ‘I’ve made a mistake here, I’ve got to look’ because he’s not going to send you for a maybe.”

Jay Bothroyd talking to Sky Sports about the penalty incident as well

“When I initially saw this, I thought it could be a bit soft. The more I see it, the more I agree. It’s a definite penalty.

“When you learn how to play football, you learn how to mark. Your shoulders are open so you can see, you can feel and you can glance at the same time.

“Dan Burn has initially tried to run there and then he’s tried to duck around the other side and Bentacur has turned around because he knows he’s in a bad decision and he’s trying to block him.

“That’s why I think he’s given the penalty.”

My thoughts

A lot of nonsense has been talked about this penalty award for Newcastle United.

Dermot Gallagher has got it spot on, as has Jay Bothroyd.

This was a penalty and the former referee has explained exactly why this is.

No two situations are exactly alike and on this occasion, it was the right call, eventually…