Newcastle United were awarded a dubious penalty against Tottenham Hotspur last night.
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Jamie O’Hara was left seething after Newcastle United received a controversial penalty against Tottenham Hotspur.
In the closing stages of the game, Rodrigo Bentancur was judged to have fouled Dan Burn while man-marking him for a corner. The two tussled in the box, with the Toon defender hitting the deck.
Referee Thomas Bramall initially waved play on but VAR intervened and persuaded him to change his mind. Anthony Gordon buried the resulting spot-kick to fire Newcastle in front with just four minutes remaining.
Newcastle United collapse
However, the Magpies - as has often been the case this season - failed to hang on. Spurs netted a scruffy 95th-minute winner, with captain Cristian Romero bagging his second of the game.
An awkward bicycle kick bundled past three idle Newcastle defenders and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to snatch a late point for the visitors. Conceding a late equaliser means United have now dropped 11 points from winning positions this season.
‘Game is gone’ - Jamie O’Hara
Despite the last-gasp Romero strike, former Tottenham midfielder O’Hara was raging at the penalty decision nine minutes earlier. He told talkSPORT: “What have I just witnessed at St James’ Park? That penalty, the game is gone. He’s got him in a headlock. It’s an absolute shambles from VAR.
“I’ve got a load of Gooners in the office, I’ve got you (Jason Cundy) as a Chelsea fan, everyone just couldn’t wait to see me come in here lose my head. Romero got us out of trouble and fair play to him but that penalty decision is a disgrace. That is one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen.
“You see that at any level, every game, every week, all over the country. Dan Burn has him in a headlock! I don’t know what (Rodrigo) Bentancur is meant to do. It was disgusting. VAR is ruining football.”
Thomas Frank blasts penalty call
Spurs boss Frank also slammed the penalty decision as a “mistake” at the full-time whistle. He told reporters: “It was an absolute mistake from the VAR. The referee did good to do the ref call and they encourage the refereeing call on the pitch. For me, that is never a penalty.
"Even speaking to some from Newcastle (they) don't think it's a penalty and we need consistency. I think the referee's call on the pitch, he nailed it, and VAR can only be if it's clear and obvious."