In a keenly contested Boxing Day fixture, Newcastle United were left aggrieved by a disallowed penalty decision as they went down 1-0 to Manchester United. The solitary goal of the match was a sensational volley by Patrick Dorgu, propelling Man Utd to fifth place in the Premier League standings, at least temporarily, ahead of the weekend’s action.
The Magpies were left questioning a key moment in the match when the ball appeared to strike Lisandro Martinez’s arm in the Manchester United penalty area shortly after the hour mark. Fabian Schar unleashed a shot amidst a congested penalty box that clearly hit Martinez’s arm. However, after a thorough VAR review, the officials decided against awarding a penalty.
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has since defended the officials’ decision. Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett noted, “There’s an expectation that any contact with the hand or arm constitutes an offence. However, this specific incident was challenging for the referee, requiring a judgement on whether the body shape was exaggerated, movement was towards the ball, or if the action was deliberate. I believe there’s enough doubt in this case for both the referee and VAR to abstain from awarding a penalty.”
Gary Neville, providing commentary on Sky Sports, concurred with the officials at Stockley Park. Highlighting mutual contact between Martinez and Malick Thiaw, Neville suggested this interaction spared the Man Utd player from conceding a penalty. “There’s a massive shout,” Neville said. “Schar hits it, his arm is up above his head. Is it because he’s pushing Thiaw? That might just save him.”
Peter Drury, also a Sky Sports commentator, echoed Neville’s sentiments, offering, “That’s essentially the [VAR] explanation for the fact that there won’t be a penalty.”
The decision sparked considerable debate among fans, with The Independent’s Adam Clery remarking online, “I didn’t think they could top the Gordon thing against Chelsea, but ‘it’s not handball because he’s already pushing Thiaw in the back’ might be close.” Another observer humorously added, “’Not a penalty because he’s pushing someone’ has to be a top 5 all-timer.”
This intriguing clash, with its VAR controversies and pivotal moments, only adds fuel to the fiery narrative of Premier League’s festive fixtures.