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Newcastle legend Alan Shearer led a hosts of pundits left enraged and baffled at the awarding of a controversial late penalty to PSG as they denied Eddie Howe’s side a famous away win in the Champions League.
Newcastle were minutes from a 1-0 victory in the French capital after Alexander Isak’s first-half strike, which would have seen Eddie Howe’s side move to second in the group.
The hosts were given the chance to draw level from the spot after Tino Livramento was adjudged to have handled in the box, after the ball hit his chest and then struck elbow.
Kylian Mbappe dispatched the resulting penalty to secure a 1-1 draw, with the result leaving PSG’s hopes of reaching the knock-out stage in their own hands.
Shearer blasted the decision on social media, posting ‘Do me a f***ng favour man. What a load of s***. #VAR’.
PSG were awarded an injury time penalty after the ball struck Tino Livramento on the elbow
Kylian Mbappe scored the resulting penalty as PSG controversially secured a 1-1 draw
Referee Szymon Marciniak made the decision to award the late penalty after the VAR review
‘How on earth is that a penalty for PSG. Ludicrous,’ tweeted Match of the Day host Gary Lineker.
‘What a joke. VAR !! Referee totally bottled it. Disgraceful decision makes you wonder why we bother,’ posted Jeff Stelling, the former host of Sky Sport’s long-running results service Soccer Saturday.
Ex-Liverpool striker Stan Collymore blasted the use of VAR in making the decision, tweeting ‘VAR, please die.’
TNT co-commentator Ally McCoist claimed ‘we may as will give up the game’ as the Rangers legend expressed frustration at the awarding of the penalty.
McCoist insisted that the decision was ‘bordering on robbery’ for Howe’s Newcastle side.
‘That’s a shambles. Honestly it is not on. Dembele plays it and it hits his chest and then comes off his left elbow,’ McCoist said.
‘If that is a penalty kick we are chucking it, we may as well give up the game. That is nonsense, nonsense.
‘It is never a penalty. The referee has been excellent up until now but how can you give that.
Jermaine Jenas claimed referee Szymon Marciniak had caved to pressure to award the penalty
‘It is bordering on robbery, it really is. Eddie Howe‘s boys have worked their socks off from start to finish and then I think it is a really poor decision from the official, who had been really good.’
Referee Szymon Marciniak, who oversaw the last year’s World Cup final and the 2023 Champions League final, had also been praised for his performance by former Newcastle midfielder Jermaine Jenas prior to the penalty decision.
Jenas, however, claimed Marciniak had caved to the pressure of the PSG players when he eventually decided to award the penalty.
‘I think it’s a shocker. The referee had such a good game but he’s caved really,’ Jenas said.
‘For that to happen, in that moment like that, after Newcastle performed the way they did, it doesn’t feel right. It’s a bitter pill to swallow.’
Newcastle remain third in the Champions League group ahead of the final round of matches, with Howe’s side two points adrift of PSG.
PSG travel to face group leaders Borussia Dortmund in their final match with the German side already assured of a place in the last-16.
Newcastle will host AC Milan on December 13 with Howe’s side needing a favour from Dortmund.
