Dermot Gallagher has spoken out about the disputed handball judgment that cost Newcastle United in Paris. Dermot Gallagher, a former Premier League referee, has weighed in on the controversy that cost Newcastle United two crucial points in Paris on Tuesday night. The Magpies led PSG until the 96th minute, when an incredibly severe penalty for suspected handball was awarded.
The ball struck Tino Livramento in the chest before striking his hand, which is not a handball by definition because the ball struck another body part that was not a foot or a head before striking the hand. When the ball strikes another body part in this manner, it is automatically declared accidental if it strikes an arm or a hand.
However, despite this, a penalty was given, which Kylian Mbappe converted, putting Newcastle at a disadvantage for their upcoming game against AC Milan in two weeks. Following this incident, UEFA has replaced the VAR team responsible for the decision in the next round of fixtures, a move that doesn’t surprise former Premier League referee Gallagher. He expressed his thoughts to Sky Sports, stating, “The fact that the VAR team has been removed indicates a lot. It wasn’t really a penalty, was it? If that call happened in the Premier League, the media would dwell on it for a month. It was astonishing. What’s surprising is that the referee is highly competent. Throughout the game, he was flawless for 96, 97 minutes.”
Gallagher continued, “Then, he was alerted to something by another party, something he didn’t award on the field – which was the right call. I’m genuinely unsure about what he saw on the screen to change his decision. As I watched, I was convinced he would reject it and stand firm.”
“When you’re instructed to review a play and the VAR believes you’ve made a clear mistake, that’s the crux of the issue. It must affect your mindset – have I overlooked something? However, when you approach the screen, you have to remember that you’re the ultimate decision-maker, and all choices lie with you.”
“He had the option to decline, in my view, as it hit him. He’s going through his checklist of factors – was it an intentional handball? Absolutely not. Did it come from a short distance at high speed? Certainly yes. Was his arm in an unnatural position? Definitely not, as he was in a running motion. But the crucial factor is – did it hit his body first? It struck his chest before his elbow, with almost no space between the two. He had no opportunity to avoid it.”
“It’s straightforward! That four-point assessment: the first was a no, second no, third no, and fourth definitely no. It’s a clear deflection, so it can’t be considered a handball. I understand it needs to meet at least one of those points to be a penalty, but this instance doesn’t satisfy any. Each criterion is a clear negative.”
Gallagher added: “The incident involving Miley’s handball, which wasn’t penalized, only differed in terms of the result. It deflected off his thigh, bounced up, and it’s a scenario often seen in Premier League appeals. However, once it’s established that it bounced off the thigh, it’s usually ruled out. I recall a notable incident at Newcastle with Arsenal, where the referee reviewed the VAR and altered his decision upon noticing the deflection, something he hadn’t seen at real speed.”
“Last night, the referee observed it at real speed, stated it wasn’t a penalty, and rightfully continued. The laws of the game are consistent; you can’t cherry-pick them. They exist, alongside considerations or options, as guidelines. Referees don’t have the luxury of going through these considerations on the pitch; it becomes instinctive. They recognize, in their mind, whether a play constitutes a penalty or not. Newcastle has requested UEFA’s insights, but whether that information becomes public remains uncertain. Undoubtedly, they’ll seek an explanation.”
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