Alan Shearer has criticised the VAR decision not to award Newcastle United a penalty during their 2-2 draw with Chelsea at St. James' Park. The incident occurred when Trevoh Chalobah collided with Anthony Gordon in the penalty area, with replays showing the defender making no contact with the ball.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said: 'The penalty decision that they never got was absolutely ridiculous.' Gary Lineker added: 'It was a penalty, it was, I mean he just rammed him straight off, didn’t he?' Shearer responded: 'Yeah, even the tweet the Premier League put out... to say he was shielding the ball. Rubbish! Shielding the ball? It was like as clear a foul as you're ever going to see.'
Commentator Ally McCoist also believed it was a penalty, stating: 'I think it's a penalty, I really do. I think he's trying to usher him out but he takes him out. It's a stonewall penalty. I'm staggered at that.' Joe Cole added: 'Too much aggression. I think we'll be hearing from Eddie Howe after the game.'
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said after the match: 'I thought it was a stonewall penalty. I thought the defender went in with too much aggression. I think anywhere else on the pitch that's a free-kick, so I'm really disappointed it wasn't given.'
The Premier League Match Centre explained on X: 'The referee's call of no penalty to Newcastle was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact from Chalobah on Gordon deemed to be side-to-side in a shielding action and the ball within playing distance.'
