Newcastle United handed double penalty verdict after Brighton controversy

Newcastle United have been handed a double verdict after three penalties were awarded during their draw with Brighton.

The Magpies were forced to settle for a point in their Premier League clash against the Seagulls on Sunday afternoon. Alexander Isak scored the only goal for Newcastle, which came from the penalty spot in the closing minutes at the Amex Stadium.

Eddie Howe’s side were awarded their first penalty by referee Craig Pawson for a foul on Anthony Gordon, which was later overturned by VAR due to the challenge being judged to be outside the box.
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Newcastle were then given a second penalty after Joe Willock was judged to have been fouled by Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke. VAR then intervened and the spot-kick was overturned, with Willock subsequently booked for simulation.

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Former Premier League midfielder Lee Hendrie was on commentary for Sky Sports and explained why he agreed with the decision to overturn the penalty.

“There were big screams and shouts for a dive,” said Hendrie. “It’s definitely not [a penalty]. It’s a dive, it really is. This will get overturned for sure.”
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Hendrie later added: “It’s the right call,” after it was confirmed that the penalty was overturned.

Newcastle were then awarded a third penalty of the afternoon for a handball by Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari during a Fabian Schar free-kick. This time, the decision was not overturned and Isak took the spot-kick and scored to take his goal tally up to 26 in all competitions for the season.

“This might be third time lucky,” said Hendrie during the check for the Newcastle penalty. “It’s massive – it’s definitely a penalty.”

After Isak found the back of the net, Hendrie added: “That’s top composure and a top penalty. [Bart] Verbruggen wouldn’t have got near it anyway.”