Newcastle United have reached out to English referees’ body PGMOL seeking clarity after a contentious second-half moment left them without what they believed was a game-changing penalty in a 2-2 Premier League draw with Chelsea at St James’ Park.
The incident centered on Anthony Gordon, who went down inside the box under pressure from Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah. Referee Andy Madley immediately waved play on, and VAR opted not to send the official to the monitor. Chelsea later pulled level, turning one disputed decision into the defining talking point of the night.
What Newcastle wanted – and why the club is pushing back
After the match, head coach Eddie Howe confirmed the club has already made contact to ask for an explanation of the process behind the call.
From Newcastle’s perspective, the sequence checked two boxes that typically trigger serious penalty consideration: meaningful contact in the area and a clear impact on the attacker’s ability to play the ball. That, combined with the match situation, made the non-call especially hard to swallow.
The VAR view – “shielding” rather than a foul
The Premier League’s explanation framed Chalobah’s actions as side-to-side “shielding,” with the ball considered within playing distance. In simple terms, the review treated it as legal positioning rather than a trip or body check worthy of a penalty.
That interpretation is exactly what fuels the larger frustration around VAR: the line between “strong defending” and “penalty” can feel razor-thin, and fans often don’t understand why some plays get re-refereed while others do not.
Eddie Howe’s message – firm disagreement, but no dwelling
Howe has been consistent that he believes it was a penalty even after looking back at the replay. Still, he made it clear he doesn’t want his team coaching to a gray area inside the box.
His broader point landed cleanly: defenders ideally shouldn’t put themselves in positions where a split-second judgment decides the game. Newcastle think Chelsea did and got away with it.
Why it stings more for Newcastle
Newcastle’s season has included too many moments where strong starts haven’t turned into full points, and a controversial non-call inside the box lands differently when you’ve already watched leads slip away.
Against Chelsea, the sequence had a familiar feel: Newcastle carried the early threat, Chelsea grew into the game, and the margins – including one major decision – ended up shaping the result.
What’s next – Old Trafford on Boxing Day
There’s no time for Newcastle to linger on the debate. Their next test is Manchester United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, a high-profile matchup that arrives with an injury-heavy backdrop for Newcastle’s defense.
There is at least some optimism that Nick Pope and Sven Botman could be moving closer to availability, but multiple defensive options remain sidelined. That context matters, because Newcastle’s focus now shifts from officiating frustration to game management and stability at the back.
