Kylian Mbappe scored a contentious penalty late in Newcastle United’s Champions League match against.
The Magpies tightly controlled the match since Alexander Isak’s 24th-minute goal. Despite PSG’s pressure, Eddie Howe’s team fought resolutely to secure a hard-earned victory, providing a significant boost to their Champions League campaign. However, late drama unfolded as referee Szymon Marciniak controversially awarded PSG a penalty for a handball against Tino Livramento.
A VAR check upheld the decision, claiming Livramento handled the ball inside the box, despite the replay clearly showing it initially struck his chest before hitting his elbow.
Mbappé converted the penalty, leaving Newcastle with a sense of having their victory unjustly taken away. Pundits Ally McCoist and Jermaine Jenas strongly criticized the decision, calling it a “disgrace” and “one of the most disgraceful decisions” they’ve seen.
“That is absolutely never a penalty,” McCoist expressed, labeling it a disgrace for such calls in the premier club competition. Jenas shared his frustration, emphasizing that the ball deflected off Livramento’s body onto his arm, making it a non-penalty situation.
After the match, Eddie Howe, still processing the decision, expressed his displeasure but praised his players’ performance. He, too, disagreed with the penalty call, emphasizing the ball’s contact with Livramento’s chest first. Howe acknowledged feeling robbed but remained optimistic about their Champions League prospects.
