Newcastle United's 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur has been marred by controversy after a VAR decision awarded the Magpies a late penalty, which was scored to seal the point. The decision has left many questioning the consistency of refereeing in the Premier League.
Critics argue that Newcastle's Dan Burn was not even protesting when he went down, and his body language suggested he was simply trying to be elaborate rather than holding onto Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur. Jamie Redknapp, a former England midfielder turned pundit, echoed this sentiment, saying: "Look at Dan Burn, he's not even complaining."
Redknapp also expressed frustration with the lack of consistency in refereeing decisions, stating: "Where's the consistency? We see this game in and game out in the Premier League and they don't get given." He believes that if a penalty is going to be awarded for a holding offense, then it should be consistently applied.
Micah Richards, another Sky Sports pundit, also disagreed with the decision, saying: "In terms of not looking at the ball, that meets the criteria. When we had the discussions with the Premier League, that was something they were going to take into consideration." He argued that there wasn't enough holding from Burn, and that Bentancur's defense did meet the threshold for a penalty.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe acknowledged that Burn didn't look at the ball when he went down, but still believed it was a fair decision. However, Tottenham boss Thomas Frank disagreed strongly with the VAR call, labeling it an "absolute mistake."
The controversy surrounding this game highlights the need for consistency in refereeing decisions in the Premier League. As Redknapp pointed out, fans and players alike are fed up with seeing certain incidents not being given to teams that might be disadvantaged by them.
The inconsistent application of the law can lead to frustration and disillusionment among supporters, particularly when it comes to key moments like this one. The Premier League must address these issues and work towards creating a more reliable and fair refereeing system for all its fans.
Critics argue that Newcastle's Dan Burn was not even protesting when he went down, and his body language suggested he was simply trying to be elaborate rather than holding onto Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur. Jamie Redknapp, a former England midfielder turned pundit, echoed this sentiment, saying: "Look at Dan Burn, he's not even complaining."
Redknapp also expressed frustration with the lack of consistency in refereeing decisions, stating: "Where's the consistency? We see this game in and game out in the Premier League and they don't get given." He believes that if a penalty is going to be awarded for a holding offense, then it should be consistently applied.
Micah Richards, another Sky Sports pundit, also disagreed with the decision, saying: "In terms of not looking at the ball, that meets the criteria. When we had the discussions with the Premier League, that was something they were going to take into consideration." He argued that there wasn't enough holding from Burn, and that Bentancur's defense did meet the threshold for a penalty.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe acknowledged that Burn didn't look at the ball when he went down, but still believed it was a fair decision. However, Tottenham boss Thomas Frank disagreed strongly with the VAR call, labeling it an "absolute mistake."
The controversy surrounding this game highlights the need for consistency in refereeing decisions in the Premier League. As Redknapp pointed out, fans and players alike are fed up with seeing certain incidents not being given to teams that might be disadvantaged by them.
The inconsistent application of the law can lead to frustration and disillusionment among supporters, particularly when it comes to key moments like this one. The Premier League must address these issues and work towards creating a more reliable and fair refereeing system for all its fans.