Newcastle United coach Eddie Howe was furious after his side was denied a famous Champions League victory over PSG courtesy of a controversial 97th-minute penalty in Wednesday morning’s blockbuster encounter.
Kylian Mbappe converted from the spot with his side’s 30th shot of the match, earning a 1-1 draw that has massive ramifications for both teams’ hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.
In the final minute of the eight allotted for stoppage time, PSG attacker Ousmane Dembele crossed the ball into Newcastle’s Tino Livramento. It struck the player on the chest at pace before deflecting onto his elbow.
Having previously denied a penalty call for handball without even looking at the pitch-side VAR monitor, this time Polish referee Szymon Marciniak reviewed the incident and overturned his initial decision not to award a penalty.
98th-min penalty chaos as PSG steal draw; Man City’s epic comeback: CL Wrap
MORE NEWS
‘Killing the game’: Outrage as revolutionary sin bin law could change football forever
The brutal World Cup dilemma facing Socceroos in bid for Asian Cup redemption
Spurs’ injury hell worsens as returning star cops injury blow after 32-minute return
Speaking to TNT Sports, Howe said: “I’m still coming to terms with it. I feel really flat but at the same time really pleased with what the players gave today. Their commitment, execution … We rode our luck. We ran out of luck at the end. I didn’t think it was a penalty.
“What you don’t take into account with those replays is how quick the ball goes. It hits his chest first. If it hits his hands first, well it’s still not a penalty because he’s so close. But you can make more of a case.
“It’s not a penalty when it hits his chest first and then hits his hand which is low. I’m not allowed to sum it up. I can’t say my inner thoughts obviously [I’d get in trouble].
Howe added: “the pressure put on the referee by the crowd was extreme.”
He wasn’t alone in his criticism of the call.
“It’s horrible, horrible,” former Socceroo Craig Foster said on Stan Sport.
“It is a disgusting decision,” said former Premier League winner Tim Sherwood on Sky Sports. “It is ridiculous. It is impossible.”
“What is Livramento meant to do with his arms? Wrap them round his back?” ex-pro Jermaine Jenas told TNT Sports.
“I’m fuming. The players threw everything at it and it should have been one of those historic wins. Newcastle have been robbed.”
“It’s one of the most disgraceful decisions I’ve seen in a long time!”
Fellow TNT Sports pundit Ally McCoist agreed with Jenas, saying: “It comes off Tino Livramento’s chest and hits his elbow.
“That is absolutely never a penalty. If we’re giving a penalty for that, then it is a disgrace.”
City complete epic second half comeback | 00:46
Discussion about this post