Ally McCoist branded it a “disgrace”, while Jermaine Jenas said Newcastle were “robbed” as a controversial late penalty decision denied Eddie Howe’s side a memorable victory at Paris St-Germain.
Aleksander Isak’s first-half goal in Tuesday’s Champions League tie had looked set to stun the hosts, as missed chances and some big saves from Nick Pope gave the visiting fans hope that their side were going to complete a double over the French champions in Group F.
But, in the eighth minute of stoppage time, Ousmane Dembele’s cross appeared to strike Tino Livramento’s body and the ball bounced up on to his arm.
After referee Szymon Marciniak reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor, he awarded a spot-kick, which Kylian Mbappe duly despatched to secure a 1-1 draw.
“What is Livramento meant to do with his arms? Wrap them round his back? I’m fuming,” former Newcastle midfielder Jenas said on TNT Sports.
“The players threw everything at it and it should have been one of those historic wins. Newcastle have been robbed.”
McCoist, commentating on the game for TNT, added: “That is absolutely never a penalty. If we’re giving a penalty for that, then it is a disgrace.”
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) who advised Marciniak to review the incident has been stood down by Uefa for his next match, though European football’s governing body has not made a public statement about the decision.
Tomasz Kwiatkowski was supposed to be VAR for Real Sociedad v RB Salzburg in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, but has been replaced by Marco Fritz of Germany.
Source: BBC
