Jamie Carragher has blasted referee chief Howard Webb for instructing VAR operators to stick with on-pitch decisions as much as possible.
The Liverpool legend was left fuming after Wolves were denied what appeared to be an obvious penalty against Newcastle. Raul Jimenez capitalised on a mistake by Nick Pope to steal the ball away from the Magpies keeper in the box.
Pope then clattered into the Wolves striker, but referee Andy Madley appeared to be too far away from the incident to make a decision. He then seemed to seek advice from either VAR Tony Harrington or one of his assistants, though he was not sent to the pitchside monitor.
That mean Pope was neither punished nor a penalty awarded to the visitors. Newcastle would go on to secure a 2-1 win, to keep them in touch of the top four.
The incident follows a new directive sent out by Webb to raise the bar for VAR intervention on subjective decisions so that only clear and obvious errors are now being reviewed. But Carragher blasted that move in the wake of the failure to award Wolves a penalty.
"Nick Pope should’ve been sent off and Wolves awarded a penalty at Newcastle," Carragher wrote on Twitter after the game.
"The directive from Howard Webb to try & stick with on field decisions as much as possible, was a mistake today. The referee was so far away there was no way he knew what had happened."
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In commentary on Sky Sports, Carragher had also made his feelings clear, saying: "The referee was a long way away and straight away he was waving them away saying no. As I say, he was a long way away.
"We were just speaking about the goalkeeper and what happened [red card vs Liverpool] and it’s just a mess. You can see straight away Nick Pope looks at the referee - normally a sign of guilt.
"He’s a lucky boy, the only thing that saves him, maybe, is that the referee feels the ball has gone too far away. He’s very, very lucky. He doesn’t throw his leg or his arm out but it’s almost a coming together with the midriff. He’s very lucky."
Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui was adamant that his side should have been awarded a penalty. He said: "I think to be honest this is true, for me it was a very, very clear penalty for us. We are really unlucky with the referee, this is a pity for us."
Jamie Redknapp completed the criticism of Madley, Harrington and their teams after being left in disbelief that a penalty had not been awarded. He warned Pope - who has only recently returned from a suspension - that he had been "incredibly lucky" to escape punishment for his clumsy challenge.
"He's incredibly lucky. I cannot believe that they’ve not sent Andy Madley to the monitor, you can see here he gets a good touch away, Jimenez, Nick Pope just takes him out with his right shoulder," Redknapp told Sky Sports.
"Look, it’s difficult for the referee, he’s 50 yards away, but watch his right shoulder there - he just body checks him there. There is no doubt it’s a foul, and then because he’s not tried to play the ball that would then be a penalty and a red card, and a four game ban for him.
"That’s how contentious and important this decision was to get right. We’ve got such an advantage with VAR, just say to Andy Madley go and take a look at it. Even if it takes a minute or two, go and have a look at it and make up your own mind.
"Otherwise you’re just guessing. Andy Madley cannot see it, the linesman is on the other side as well, that is such an important moment in this game that needs a little bit of time for the VAR monitor - what a big mistake."
