Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has delivered a firm verdict on the controversial penalty awarded against Tottenham Hotspur in their dramatic 2-2 draw with Newcastle United on Tuesday night.
Frank's Fury Over Late Spot-Kick
The pivotal moment arrived in the closing stages of the Premier League clash at St James' Park, with the score locked at 1-1. Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was adjudged to have hauled Newcastle defender Dan Burn to the ground inside the penalty area. Anthony Gordon converted the resulting spot-kick, only for Cristian Romero to salvage a point for Tottenham with a last-gasp header, his second goal of the match.
An incensed Tottenham manager, Thomas Frank, labelled the decision "very disappointing" and insisted it was "never a penalty." He claimed even a member of Newcastle's staff agreed with his assessment, calling for greater consistency from officials.
Gallagher's Key Insight: The Pre-Corner Warning
However, speaking on Sky Sports' Ref Watch, Gallagher offered a detailed technical breakdown that sided with the match officials. The ex-referee revealed a crucial detail that occurred just before the corner was taken.
"Just before that corner was taken, Thomas Bramall actually went to the two players and said to Bentancur, 'you're facing the wrong way'. He's told them," Gallagher stated. "If I was that referee, when I go back to my position, that's who I'd be focusing on."
Gallagher emphasised that Premier League clubs had been specifically warned about the risks of such physical challenges. "The one thing I'll say, which the clubs were warned about, is if the player is not facing the ball - which he never is - he runs a risk of giving a penalty away," he explained.
The VAR Mystery and Final Verdict
Gallagher expressed some bewilderment at the VAR process, noting that referee Bramall had initially seen the incident and chosen not to award a penalty, only for the video assistant to intervene. "The referee goes to the screen and sees something on the screen he didn't see in the match. That's a mystery to me," Gallagher admitted.
Ultimately, Gallagher pinpointed the warning and Bentancur's subsequent actions as the deciding factors. "That to me, was everything," he concluded. "Watch what happens before the incident, not the incident. That's what the catalyst is... He never, ever looks at the ball. That's the key thing. They [the players] were told."
The incident has reignited the ongoing debate around consistency in Premier League officiating and the application of VAR, leaving Tottenham to rue a decision that nearly cost them a valuable point on their trip to Tyneside.
