If you thought losing a 2-0 lead to Chelsea wasn’t bad enough, any anger at today’s result will only get worse when you see the penalty incident that wasn’t given on Anthony Gordon.
It looked a foul at the time, but replays show it was an absolute stone-wall penalty as Trevoh Chalobah smashed into Gordon’s thigh on 55 minutes (watch below).
Should this have been given? 🤔
Newcastle’s call for a penalty is denied following a challenge from Trevoh Chalobah. @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/1Zl62O3fV1
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 20, 2025
Speaking after the game, Eddie Howe looked visibly agitated and baffled by the initial call and VAR’s lack of intervention, insisting it was a “clear error” and a big mistake that’s cost us the chance to go 3-1 up before the hour mark:
“It’s a clear error, because that’s a clear penalty.
“Anywhere else on the pitch, it’s a free kick. The player has gone in aggressively and only focuses on Ant (Gordon). It’s a stone wall.
“They’ve said it’s shielding, but I don’t agree with that analysis, so I’m really disappointed that wasn’t given.”
PGMOL have issued an official update explaining why they did not recommend a review, claiming the contact from Chalobah was a ‘side-to-side shielding action’
In a post on X, they said: ‘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.’
Watch that again and tell me how that is a shielding action? He’s made no attempt to play the ball and clattered into Gordon’s thigh.
Yes, we’ve been the masters of our downfall today, conceding two poor goals to spoil our superb first half display, but we’ve been let down horribly by the officials.
Still fuming with VAR, he’s wiped him out .
kimtoon(Quote)
That f****r referee was clearly Chelsea fans . Period
J(Quote)
According to media we have lost 13 points so far from winning positions ., half in the last 10 minutes.. Howe can that be ?
Mike(Quote)
Yesterday was the absolute proof that the Premier League has existed the last 2 decades only for Liv/ManU/Ars/Chel & the rest are just there as opponents to lie down. Was unable to sleep wondering if I/everyone not associated with those 4 clubs should just completely stop watching in stadia/on screen after all this time.
Not only were we denied a cast iron penalty & shameless PGMOL defending it (they’re NOT incompetent, they follow PL office directive to support the ‘big 4’), Caicedo would’ve been booked there & sent off subsequently for his 2nd YC. Then Ekitike’s 2 handed push on Romero before his winning goal was not penalised. Then Everton were denied a clear penalty vs Arsenal. Each of these would’ve been reversed if the teams involved were switched. And if I ever get face to face with Jim Beglin of Liverpool I’ll lose control. Sky will deliberately put him on 100% of our games to spout lies & tell everything as if Newcastle’s team are criminals & incompetent. The amount of money spent on watching either in a ground or on TV is just not worth it.
Either let these 4 clubs leave & join a ESL or make a separate league (witha BIGGG shiny trophy & billions in prize money) for them where they/their supporters can w*nk each other off, the rest of the league structure can then hopefully be a sporting competition & not a fixed facade. Until it happens everyone ought to boycott everything to do with the PL. We’re better off doing something else.
* Man City entered the winning lot by force, they accepted but didn’t like it & are still trying to take away those titles/send them down while ensuring Newc/Villa/etc don’t join them at the top.
P(Quote)
Eddie Howe has NEVER in his career of 500+ matches as manager reacted like this & there have been dozens of blatant decisions like this just in his 4 years as Newcastle manager. Even he’s lost it now. The closest he’d come was the letter shot off to PL after such decisions vs Liecester/Liv/ManC the month that he came in when they were trying to send us down fearing Saudi money. He’s been gentlemanly when he didn’t need to be & no one else is. March’22 vs Chelsea away when Havertz tried to kill Burn with his elbow & Chalobah pulled Murphy down repeatedly without a pen given before Havertz won it in the 89th min was a teaser for yesterday. It’ll keep repeating unless people just stop association with the PL or help disband it.
P(Quote)
Yes it was a rotten VAR decision, however Ramsdale was poor and gave James far too much to aim at and was badly positioned, granted it was a good free kick, think Pope would have saved that.
Barnes was awful taking too long to get his shot away and also missed a sitter and in injury time he was weak when tugged back, needs to use his strength if he has any!
Thiaw was left for dead by Pedro and not for the first time a goalkeeper has bypassed our entire midfield and defence.
Garnacho should have walked for his tackle on Ramsey, some you win some you don’t and we certainly didn’t get the rub of the green today.
Referee and VAR nil points.
Joseph(Quote)
Mad how embarrassing fans can be.
It’s a bad decision. No conspiracy. Move on.
We were great 1st half and had the better chances in the 2nd half regardless of refs calls. If Barnes hit the target, Woltemade finished a couple more and Elanga had passed the ball when through then we’d have won. Better look at our own mistakes than relying on refs.
Hazz(Quote)