In a dramatic Premier League clash at St. James’ Park, Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea managed to salvage a point against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United in a match that ended 2-2. The early kick-off saw the hosts surge ahead with Nick Woltemade scoring twice in the first half—first in the fourth minute and again midway through.
However, the Blues fought back after the interval. Reece James pulled one back with a stunning free-kick shortly after the restart, and Joao Pedro equalized in the 66th minute. From there, neither side could find a winner, leaving both teams to share the spoils.
The real talking point, though, emerged from a contentious incident that left Newcastle fuming. Many fans and experts believe the Magpies were denied a clear penalty when Trevoh Chalobah appeared to foul Anthony Gordon in the Chelsea box. Replays revealed Chalobah making no contact with the ball during a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge that sent Gordon tumbling.
On-field referee Andy Madley waved away the appeals, and VAR backed his call, per reports from Chronicle Live. But this decision has sparked widespread outrage, with Newcastle legend Alan Shearer leading the charge on The Rest Is Football podcast.
Shearer blasted: “I mean the penalty decision that they never got was absolutely ridiculous, honestly.” Co-host Gary Lineker agreed, adding: “It was a penalty, it was, I mean he [Chalobah] just rammed [Gordon] him straight off, didn’t he?” Shearer doubled down, dismissing the official explanation: “Yeah, even the tweet the Premier League put out, and I know it’s what VAR are telling them, but 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. I’d love to know, you’ve got three professionals, you’ve got the referee on the pitch and you’ve got two VAR are looking at that, slowing it down, and thinking, ‘Yeah, that’s alright, wasn’t a foul.'”
Shearer’s view echoed across the punditry world. Commentator Ally McCoist, on duty during the game, declared: “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 penalty, as simple as that. It’s a stonewall penalty. I’m staggered at that.”
Former Chelsea star Joe Cole weighed in too: “Too much aggression. I think we’ll be hearing from Eddie Howe after the game.”
Howe didn’t disappoint post-match, venting: “Yeah, 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 later justified the non-call 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.”
Yet, with such a chorus of damning verdicts from experts branding the VAR decision as ‘absolutely ridiculous,’ Chelsea may count themselves fortunate to escape with a draw amid the controversy.