VAR: Correct decision to award Newcastle United goal against Arsenal, panel rules

The decision to award Newcastle United’s winning goal against Arsenal was correct, according to the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel.

The five-person panel, which includes three former players and/or coaches, decided there was insufficient evidence to overrule the on-field decision to award Anthony Gordon’s goal.

However, the panel ruled Arsenal’s Kai Havertz should have been sent off for his tackle on Sean Longstaff, while Bruno Guimaraes should also have been shown a red card for hitting Jorginho.

The panel, which also includes one representative each from the Premier League and PGMOL, reviews major incidents to assess whether the eventual rulings, including video assistant referee checks, were correct.

At St James’ Park on Saturday, the awarding of Gordon’s controversial second-half winner for Newcastle was described as “embarrassing” and a “disgrace” by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal backed Arteta’s comments in a club statement – which was called “dangerous” by pundit Gary Neville – and the Football Association has written to the club and Arteta to “seek their observations” about his comments.

Three areas around Gordon’s goal were checked by the VAR to see if the ball went out of play in the build-up, if there was a foul by Joelinton on Gabriel, and if there was an offside – with all coming back in Newcastle’s favour.

The panel decided by a majority of 4-1 that it was right the Newcastle goal stood because there was not enough evidence to overrule the on-pitch decisions over the ball being in play and an offside call.

The panel also noted Gabriel had gone to play the ball before Joelinton touched him, therefore no foul was committed.

But it was unanimous in its view that Havertz should have been sent off for his first-half tackle on Longstaff.

It also decided by a 3-2 majority that Guimaraes should have been shown a red card for striking Jorginho with an outstretched arm.