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Newcastle have been left raging again after Arsenal avoided giving away a penalty in an “identical” incident to the one which cost the Magpies victory over PSG.
Eddie Howe’s side were within a few minutes of a famous victory at the Parc des Princes when a questionable handball decision was given against Tino Livramento, with the ball striking his chest before hitting his arm. Kylian Mbappe scored the resulting penalty to take Newcastle’s Champions League fate out of their own hands ahead of the final match night.
Less than 24 hours on, there was more handball controversy at the Emirates as the Gunners ran riot against Lens. With Mikel Arteta’s side already 4-0 up, the French side whipped a free-kick into the box, with replays showing the ball hitting the leg of Kai Havertz and then striking his arm.
READ MORE: VAR official who gave PSG penalty against Newcastle demoted from Champions League
READ MORE: UEFA rejected change to handball guidelines that would have ruled out PSG's Newcastle pen
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Like in the PSG-Newcastle game, VAR got involved, only this time a penalty was not given. While it was probably the correct decision, Newcastle fans were left fuming at the lack of consistency by what are supposed to be the finest officials in Europe.
“The ref just proving to Newcastle that they were robbed and Arsenal are happy,” said one. Another asked: “How wasn’t that a pen when they gave the PSG one.”
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A third moaned: “Arsenal just survived a decision that eliminated Newcastle.” A fourth pointed out: “Imagine watching football for the first time and your first two games being Newcastle-PSG and Arsenal-Lens, seeing Livramento give away a penalty and Havertz not given.”
Another sniped: “Away a penalty for the same thing. You’d basically assume that refs flip a coin to determine handballs.” A sixth said: “Newcastle conceding a penalty for handball after the ball deflected off the player’s thigh, and the very next day, no penalty given against Arsenal for the same exact thing?”
And a seventh argued: “The penalty not given against Arsenal tonight is the same penalty given yesterday against Newcastle. Consistency??”
Asked if he felt a sense of injustice after the decision, Toon boss Howe said after the game: “Yes, I do. It wasn’t the right decision in my opinion. There are so many things to take into account at that moment, the speed first. It was a ricochet that when it is slowed down, looks completely different to the live event.
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“The ball hits his chest first, comes up and hits his hand. But his hand is not in an unnatural position, they [his hands] are down by his side, but he is in a running motion.
“I feel it is a poor decision and it’s hugely frustrating for us as you know how little time there is left in the game. There is nothing we can do about it now.”
To sum up Newcastle's pain, the VAR official who worked on their game was dropped from his duties on Wednesday night, having meant to be on the Sociedad vs Salzburg match. Arsenal, meanwhile, went on to win their match 6-0, ensuring they won Group B with a game to spare – and they even got a penalty of their own for handball in the second half!
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