Not that it will change what happened
The VAR official who decided to award Paris Saint-Germain a controversial penalty against Newcastle has been removed from his role for a Champions League fixture tonight.
Tomasz Kwiatkowski was on duty at the Parc des Prince and gave the spot-kick after he adjudged Tino Livramento to have handled the ball in the box.
Replays seemed to show that the ball hit the chest of Livramento before bouncing up onto his arm from close range.
Referee Szymon Marciniak checked the VAR monitor and decided to award the spot-kick.
Kylian Mbappe then stepped up from 12 yards to convert the penalty and spare PSG’s blushes after the hosts misses a number of chances in the second half.
The result means that Newcastle’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages were dealt a severe blow and they’ll need to hope that Borussia Dortmund can beat the French giants and they can defeat AC Milan at St James’ Park.
Kwiatkowski was due to be on VAR duty for tonight’s clash between Real Sociedad and RB Salzburg however multiple reports have said that he has been removed from his position, with no replacement officially confirmed as of yet.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was critical of the decision made by VAR, stating: “I feel it is a poor decision and it’s hugely frustrating for us, as you know how little time there is left in the game.
“There is nothing we can do about it now.”
“I feel it is a poor decision and it’s hugely frustrating for us as you know how little time there is left in the game. There is nothing we can do about it now.”
Related links:
- PSG awarded controversial penalty in final minute of Newcastle draw
- Fans agree Premier League refereeing is currently ‘the worst it’s ever been’
- Majority of fans disagree with new sin-bin rule set to be trialled
