Newcastle United were extremely unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty in their draw on Sunday at Old Trafford.
This has been suggested by the Sky Sports pundit Danny Mills who has been speaking on the latest edition of the Ref Watch segment.
Eddie Howe’s men picked up what was a hard-fought point on Sunday against Manchester United in a game which was certainly filled with refereeing controversy.
The Red Devils were left claiming penalty appeals of their own and had a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo ruled out by referee Craig Pawson.
However, Mills was left stunned that Raphael Varane’s challenge on the Newcastle striker was not picked up by either the referee or VAR:
“I don’t understand how you’re watching the Callum Wilson one and don’t see that as a foul. If you’re going back and saying that the tiny little tug on Fabinho by [Erling] Haaland is a foul. He [Varane] steps across him, doesn’t play the ball, is miles away from the ball. That’s 100% a foul. There is no other decision apart from foul, in my opinion. I don’t understand how VAR doesn’t go to fail. Simple as that.”
TIF Thoughts on Mills’ comments…
We absolutely agree with Mills. How this was not seen as a penalty by Pawson in the first place is incredibly difficult to comprehend.
Should VAR have overturned Pawson's decision?
Yes
No
However, for VAR not to intervene and ask Pawson to review his decision on the monitor is almost unbelievable with Wilson clearly fouled off the ball.
Newcastle did perhaps get away with at least one penalty appeal against them, but this only highlights what a poor afternoon of officiating it was for Pawson and Jarred Gillett on VAR.