Ally McCoist called it a “disgrace” and Jermaine Jenas thought Newcastle had been “robbed” after a disputed late penalty decision denied Eddie Howe’s team a memorable victory at Paris St-Germain.
Aleksander Isak’s first-half goal in Tuesday’s champs League clash appeared to startle the hosts, as wasted chances and some big stops from Nick Pope gave the visiting fans optimism that their team would complete a Group F double over the French champs.
However, in the eighth minute of injury time, Ousmane Dembele’s cross looked to touch Tino Livramento’s torso and bounce up onto his arm.
Referee Szymon Marciniak awarded a spot-kick after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor, which Kylian Mbappe duly dispatched to secure a 1-1 draw.
“What exactly is Livramento supposed to do with his arms?” Wrap them around his shoulders? “I’m furious,” Jenas, a former Newcastle midfielder, said on TNT Sports.
“The players gave it their all, and it should have been one of those historic victories.” Newcastle has been defrauded.”
“That is absolutely never a penalty,” McCoist remarked while commentating on the game for TNT. If we impose a punishment for that, it is a disgrace.”
Marciniak, one of the world’s greatest referees, was in charge of the game, having previously refereed the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France, as well as the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan in June.
He had already dismissed PSG players’ requests for a penalty after Anthony Gordon appeared to tackle Achraf Hakimi inside the area, and he did so again following the Livramento incident.
However, after being prompted by the video assistant referee to inspect the monitor, he determined that there was sufficient evidence to award the hosts the 98th-minute penalty.
“The referee is the best in the business and was great for the majority of the night,” McCoist said.
“When it comes off his chest and hits his left elbow, that is never a penalty.” That decision will be remembered for the rest of the night.”
“A superb battling away performance from every single player,” former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer wrote on X. Shouldn’t be ruined by a heinous decision.”