‘What a load of s***’: Alan Shearer leads the outrage as Newcastle are denied a famous win over PSG by a very harsh injury-time penalty… as Jermaine Jenas says referee ‘caved’ in to pressure
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Newcastle legend Alan Shearer led a host of pundits who were furious and dismayed at the awarding of a controversial late penalty to PSG as they denied Eddie Howe’s side a famous away win in the Champions League.
Newcastle were minutes away from a 1-0 win in the French capital after Alexander Isak’s first-half goal, which would have moved Eddie Howe’s side into second place in the group.
The home side were given the opportunity to draw level from the spot after Tino Livramento was judged to have acted in the penalty area after the ball struck his chest and then his elbow.
Kylian Mbappe sent the resulting penalty to secure a 1–1 draw, keeping PSG’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages in their own hands.
Shearer blasted the decision on social media, posting “Do me a favor man.” What a lot of s***. #VAR’.
PSG were given an injury time penalty after the ball hit Tino Livramento on the elbow
Kylian Mbappe scored the resulting penalty as PSG controversially secured a 1-1 draw
Referee Szymon Marciniak made the decision to award the late penalty after the VAR assessment
‘How on earth is that a punishment for PSG? Ridiculous,” tweeted Match of the Day host Gary Lineker.
‘What a joke. VAR!! The referee bottled it completely. This disgraceful decision makes you wonder why we care,” said Jeff Stelling, the former host of Sky Sport’s long-running results service Soccer Saturday.
Ex-Liverpool striker Stan Collymore slammed the use of VAR in making the decision, tweeting ‘VAR, please die.’
TNT co-commentator Ally McCoist claimed that ‘we might as well give up on the game’ as the Rangers legend expressed his frustration at the penalty being awarded.
McCoist insisted the decision ‘bordered on theft’ for Howe’s Newcastle side.
‘That’s a mess. Frankly, it’s not on. Dembele plays it and it hits his chest and then comes off his left elbow,” McCoist said.
‘If that’s a penalty, we’ll throw it away and might as well forfeit the game. That’s nonsense, nonsense.
‘It’s never a penalty. The referee has been excellent so far, but how can you give that?
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer led a host of pundits infuriated by the awarding of PSG’s penalty
Jermaine Jenas claimed referee Szymon Marciniak gave in to pressure to award the penalty
‘It borders on theft, really. Eddie Howe’s boys worked really hard from start to finish and then I think it was a very poor decision by the referee, who would have been very good.’
Referee Szymon Marciniak, who oversaw last year’s World Cup final and the 2023 Champions League final, was also praised for his performance by former Newcastle midfielder Jermaine Jenas before the penalty.
However, Jenas claimed that Marciniak had bowed to pressure from the PSG players when he finally decided to award the penalty.
‘I think it’s a shock. The referee played such a good match, but he really gave in,” Jenas said.
‘For that to happen, at that moment, after Newcastle have performed as they did, it doesn’t feel good. It’s a bitter pill to swallow.’
Newcastle remain third in the Champions League group ahead of the final round of matches, with Howe’s side two points behind PSG.
PSG travel to face group leaders Borussia Dortmund in their final match, with the German side already assured of a place in the last 16.
Newcastle host AC Milan on December 13, with Howe’s side needing a favor from Dortmund.