Newcastle United's latest result has once again been plagued by questions over VAR and the on-field decisions. Eddie Howe's side maintained their impressive start to the season with a goalless draw at Manchester United.
Both sides were left aggrieved by calls made by referee Craig Pawson, with the visitors seeing a strong first-half penalty appeal waved away. Callum Wilson was brought down by Raphael Varane inside the box following a collision, but no spot-kick was awarded.
The incident was reviewed on the latest edition of Sky Sports' 'Ref Watch' segment by former referee Dermot Gallgher and pundit Danny Mills. The ex-England international raised doubts over the 'clear and obvious' remit by comparing the penalty appeal to the VAR decision to chalk off Manchester City's goal in the defeat at Liverpool.
READ MORE: 'Worst decision': Match of the Day verdict on Newcastle penalty shout in Man Utd draw
Phil Foden fired the champions into the lead at Anfield, only for the strike to be chalked off for a shirt-tug in the build-up from Erling Haaland on Fabinho. The strength of the pull and the Liverpool midfielder's momentum has raised questions from pundits and fans as to whether the goal should have been ruled out, with City going on to lose the game.
Mills believes the two decisions reflect the inconsistencies with VAR which is currently frustrating clubs and supporters alike. The pundit raised the comparison with Gallagher, insisting there was no doubt Newcastle should have been awarded a penalty.
Mills told Sky Sports: "I don't understand how you're watching the Callum Wilson one and don't see that as a foul. If you're going back and saying the tiny little tug on Fabinho by Haaland is a foul...he [Varane] steps across him, doesn't play the ball, is miles away from the ball, that's 100% a foul.
"There is no other decision apart from foul in my opinion. I don't understand how VAR doesn't go it's a foul, simple as that."
When repeatedly pushed by Mills on the two incidents, Gallagher believes the Magpies should have been awarded a penalty. However, the retired referee feels instructions from Pawson to his VAR may have meant the 'clear and obvious' requirement to overturn the on-field decision was not met.
Gallagher said: "I do think it's a foul, I do think it's an on-field penalty. I think the problem is the tolerance level for VAR isn't the same as the referee on the field.
"When you see that [Haaland's shirt pull], it's very difficult to say it's not a foul. I am of the belief that the referee has said to him 'I think he's come across and they've collided'.
"He's fed that to the VAR, he looks and goes with that because for the VAR to intervene, he's got to be convinced the referee has made a clear and obvious error. I think it's all about tolerance level."
It is not the first time this season where Newcastle have found themselves on the wrong side of a dubious VAR or on-field decision. The performance of referees has come under heavy scrutiny in recent months, and Mills believes the latest round of top-flight fixtures has emphasised this familiar frustration.
He added: "That's the problem with VAR, massive mixed messages all of the time. I don't think any person involved in football looks at that and doesn't think it's a penalty, therefore it has to be clear and obvious."
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