Former top referee rules on these controversial Newcastle v Burnley incidents

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 these incidents in the Newcastle v Burnley match.

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

Newcastle United and Burnley in a game not without incident…

This Premier League match ending Newcastle 2 Burnley 1 and United eventually banking a very valuable three points.

Dermot Gallagher talking to Sky Sports about these Newcastle v Burnley controversial incidents:

INCIDENT:

A red card for Burnley’s Lucas Pires in the 43rd minute, after bringing down Anthony Elanga just outside the Newcastle box.

DERMOT GALLAGHER:

“No complaints.

“Elanga is clear through. Red card.”

INCIDENTS:

It got worse for Burnley after VAR sent Stuart Attwell to the monitor to check a handball by Lesley Ugochukwu.

Penalty to Newcastle was the decision after Attwell deemed his arm was in an unnatural position.

Then it was Burnley’s turn to earn a penalty after Jacob Ramsey clearly stopped the ball with his hand. Again, VAR spotted this and sent the referee to the monitor.

DERMOT GALLAGHER:

“He [Ugochukwu] puts his arm out.

“Handball is easier for the referee’s now because we have a start point – is the arm out away from the body? It is and he’s going to be penalised.

“We see a lot of these, they’re unfortunate, but we know where we are.

“Ramsey’s one is deliberate because you can see that he puts his arm out.

“It’s only a yellow card because the goalkeeper was behind him and diving to stop the shot. If the goalkeeper isn’t there, it’s a red card.”

MY THOUGHTS

I think these three decisions all pretty straightforward.

Indeed, it would have been controversial only if the red card hadn’t been shown for the Burnley defender’s foul on Anthony Elanga. The same with the two penalties that were awarded.