Interesting to read through these BBC Sport comments, following on from Newcastle United winning 2-1 against Chelsea in the Premier League..
The comments from neutrals especially telling…
A lot of it different to what Newcastle United fans had come to expect from the BBC Sport ‘neutrals’.
The BBC Sport comments from neutrals in the past had been overwhelmingly a catalogue of abuse aimed at NUFC supporters.
Particularly stuff about the Newcastle United owners and the media-inspired pile-ons that NUFC fans have become used to, when blamed for who now owns their club.
On this occasion the politics entirely absent, concentrating instead on matters on the pitch…
The BBC Sport readers comments from neutrals, some Chelsea fans, plus the odd Newcastle supporter also contributing:
‘Referee and VAR were a waste of space. That was a stonewall penalty. Shielding – which numpty thought this one up. It was a blatant foul. Glad I’m not a Newcastle supporter I would be fuming.’
‘How that was penalty when Chalobah played shoulder to shoulder! Believe me today’s referee so many times made favor decisions for Nee Castle that another one could be ease for him.’
‘If that’s not a penalty then the game is gone, crystal clear pen, what is the point in VAR?’
‘Not a fan of Newcastle, far from it. However they were robbed today. How that Gordon incident wasn’t a penalty only VAR knows. Chelsea player made no attempt at getting the ball. Shocking decision.’
‘The 5 minutes they spent analysing a non-advantageous millimetres potential (but in the end clearly not) offside also seems like time that everyone could have better spent watching football…’
‘It’s not VAR, it’s the inept, biased officials that interpret the pictures.’
‘Exactly, they can spend 5 minutes micro analysing an offside but can’t get a blatant penalty correct’
‘Well, the ref was well positioned. Both the ref and VAR are guilty of messing that penalty decision up.’
‘VAR is not the problem. VAR clearly showed it was a penalty. Peter Bankes, the human being reviewing the VAR pictures was the problem.’
‘The clowns in the dugout, Howe and Maresca, aren’t much better
Neither a clue what they are doing!’
‘Strange you choose not to take up a managerial role and be paid millions a year when you clearly know better than them.’
‘How could Chalobah be shielding the ball if he was never between the ball and Gordon at any point? Does anyone know outside of the VAR booth?’
‘The Var ref today Peter Bankes has reffed Newcastle 4 timesv and been Var Ref 3 times so far this season he hasn’t had a good game yet’
‘Not a fan of either team but how on earth was that assault on Gordon not a penalty. Great game but shocking VAR.’
‘Shocking decisions once again benefitting Chelsea!’
‘How was that not a penalty. Would have made it 3-1, game over. Also – How can it take 5 mins to work out an offside decision but less than 10 secs not to give a blatant penalty. Shocking refereeing!!!’
‘Great game for the neutral.
Newcastle missed so many clear cut chances they will be kicking themselves they didn’t finish the game off.
The barge was a pen though, it was excessive force and wasn’t shoulder to shoulder.
Will feel like a loss for toon’
‘Referee was a disgrace, what is the assistant referee doing, a perfect view never moves when Gordon was flattened. A great game spoiled by a very poor referee.’
‘Strange, one of the best games of the season from the players pov but one of the worse ref performances of the season’
‘How many times did Reece James say “You know” in the post match interview? I know footballers are not known as great orators but that was unbelievable! Also, how did Newcastle not get a penalty for the challenge on Gordon? Stone wall penalty.’
‘It wasn’t just the Chalobah challenge – I’ve played the James challenge on Barnes numerous times and I can’t see any contact with the ball – are my eyes failing me?’
‘Absolute disgraceful performance by the ref and VAR today – and I’m not even a Newcastle fan. One stone cold penalty that seemingly only the ref and the VAR officials thought was not a penalty , another possible pen and a blatant Red card for bringing down the last man.’
‘Villa fan here. Unlucky Newcastle fans, definitely deserved to win that one!’
‘That might actually go down as the worst refereeing performance by Madley (and Bankes on VAR) in Premier League history.
Their (PGMOL’s) pathetic apology on Monday morning won’t make up for anything either.
Manipulating a result and not giving clear decisions is unforgivable. If that was your team today, you’d be absolutely livid.’
‘Shocking decision re the non penalty. No idea what the referee and VAR seen that denied the award of a penalty.
Wee tug on Barnes, does not matter how much of a wee tug it put him off his stride, again another howler from the incompetent officials.’
‘HOW did Newcastle not win that?
It should have been at least 5-2 – and that’s assuming they MISS the stonewall penalty!’