The Video Assistant Referee who helped award the penalty that Kylian Mbappe converted against Newcastle has been stood down from tonight’s Champions League fixtures.
The Magpies were leading 1-0 deep into stoppage time at the Parc des Princes when Tino Livramento handled in the area. Referee Szymon Marciniak waved play on but VAR Tomasz Kwiatkowski instructed him to watch the incident on the pitchside monitor, leading to Marciniak to changing his mind and giving a spot-kick.
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Mbappe duly slotted past Nick Pope to hand PSG a crucial point that they deserved on the night.
Kwiatkowski was due to be the VAR for tonight’s game between Real Sociedad and Salzburg but has been replaced with Marco Fritz now fulfilling the role.
The awarding of PSG’s spot-kick was deemed in some quarters to be harsh with Livramento’s arm not extended away from his body.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said: “It wasn’t the right decision in my opinion.
“There are so many things to take into account at that moment, the speed first. It was a ricochet that when it is slowed down, looks completely different to the live event.
“The ball hits his chest first, comes up and hits his hand. But his hand is not in an unnatural position, they [his hands] are down by his side, but he is in a running motion.
“I feel it is a poor decision and it’s hugely frustrating for us as you know how little time there is left in the game. There is nothing we can do about it now.”
