Newcastle United receive referee explanation after being denied penalty vs Man United

Fabian Schar and the Newcastle United players appealed for a penalty after the Swiss defender’s strike hit the arm of Manchester United captain Lisandro Martinez

Lisandro Martinez showed referee Anthony Taylor his stomach after the ball hit his arm(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA, Getty Images)

Former top-flight official Keith Hackett has backed referee Anthony Taylor’s decision not to award Newcastle United a spot-kick for handball against Manchester United captain Lisandro Martinez.

A Fabian Schar effort hit the Argentine defender inside the six-yard area. Martinez insisted to Taylor in the aftermath that the ball had actually made contact with his midriff, though television footage suggested it was indeed his arm.

Video assistant referee Stuart Attwell reviewed the incident but opted against any intervention. Hackett, who previously served as general manager of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), has now offered his assessment of the call.

Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett explained: “The referee has to judge if the action by the player is deliberate when deciding that an offence has taken place, not every time the ball comes into contact, is it an offence. There is sufficient doubt in this action not to award a penalty kick.”

Fabian Schar’s shot struck Lisandro Martinez(Image: Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Gary Neville suggested during the match that Martinez’s actions immediately before the incident may have influenced the outcome. The pundit remarked during Sky’s live coverage: “There is a massive shout.

“Schar hits it, his arm is up above his head, and it’s stretched. Is it because he’s pushing [Malick] Thiaw?

“That might just save him. He’s actually wrestling with the other Newcastle centre-back; his arms are already there.

“If Thiaw is nowhere near him, that’s definitely a penalty. I think the fact that he has just had a wrestle with the other centre-back might just save him.”

Neville also provided a glimpse into the VAR officials’ thought process regarding the contentious moment. The pundit said: “He is saying the context is because there’s another situation whereby he is fighting with another player and his arms are already up there and he’s just not got back down.”

His fellow commentator, Peter Drury, added: “They are calling it mutual contact between Martinez and Thiaw. And that is essentially the explanation for the fact that there won’t be a penalty.”

Here at ChronicleLive, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Newcastle United coverage and analysis.

Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest NUFC news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.

You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.

And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Everything is Black and White podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.