The VAR official involved in the controversial decision to award a penalty for Paris Saint-Germain against Newcastle has been stood down by UEFA.
Tomasz Kwiatkowski was due to be the VAR for Wednesday’s Champions League tie between Real Sociedad and Salzburg but has been replaced by UEFA in the wake of Newcastle’s controversial draw with PSG. No explanation has been given for his removal from the match. The Magpies were leading 1-0 when PSG won a controversial late penalty when Tino Livramento was adjudged to have handballed after a review. Match referee Szymon Marciniak did not award the spot-kick initially but was asked to review the incident by Kwiatkowski and then pointed to the spot. Kylian Mbappe went on to score from the penalty deep into stoppage time to salvage a point for the Ligue 1 side.
NEXT MATCHES
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The result deprived Newcastle of a victory that would have left qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League in their own hands. Instead they must now beat AC Milan and hope for a favour from already-qualified Borussia Dortmund in their final group game against PSG. Manager Eddie Howe said after the game he did not think it was a penalty, while former striker Alan Shearer raged at the decision and called it a “disgrace.”
WHAT DERMOT GALLAGHER SAID ABOUT THE PENALTY
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports that UEFA’s decision to stand down the match official is telling.
“I think the fact the VAR has been stood down speaks volumes. It’s just not a penalty, is it?” he said.
“If that was given in the Premier League, the media would be on it for a month. It was incredible. And why it was incredible is that this guy is a top referee, there’s no doubt about that. If you watch the game, he was faultless for 96, 97 minutes.
“He’s then been alerted to something by someone else, which he hasn’t given on-field – quite rightly. I really don’t know what he’s seen to change his mind on the screen.”
DID YOU KNOW?
PSG have won seven points after five games in the Champions League group phase, their lowest tally at this stage of the competition since 2004-05 (5), the last season PSG were eliminated before the knockout stage.
WHAT NEXT FOR VAR?
Tuesday’s handball call was the latest controversial decision to make headlines in a season that has been dominated by drama involving video referees. Yet FIFA are thought to be considering handing out “greater responsibilities” to video officials, which would include decisions on free-kicks, corners and second yellow cards.
