Newcastle United Seeks Clarification on Penalty Appeal Against Chelsea
Newcastle United is currently seeking clarification from Professional Game Match Officials Limited regarding a penalty appeal that was denied in their recent match against Chelsea.
Head coach Eddie Howe expressed his belief that Newcastle was denied a clear penalty during Saturday's 2-2 draw at St James' Park, following an incident where Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah pushed Anthony Gordon to the ground.
The video assistant referee (VAR) supported referee Andy Madley's decision not to award a penalty, stating that Chalobah was "deemed to be side-to-side in a shielding action and the ball was within playing distance."
Howe commented, "A call has already gone in. We just want to know the thought process behind the decision."
The PGMOL, the organization responsible for officiating all Premier League matches, has been contacted for further comment.
At the time of the incident, Newcastle was leading 2-1, but Chelsea forward Joao Pedro equalized midway through the second half following a slip by Malick Thiaw.
Newcastle has struggled this season, having lost 13 points from winning positions, the highest in the Premier League. Currently, they sit 11th in the league standings, with only one away victory, and are set to face Manchester United on December 26.
Despite the challenges, Howe remains optimistic, stating, "My glass is very much half full. I know everyone else might have a different opinion, but I feel we’re improving. We have been moving in the right direction, but we have a lot of work to do to become the team we ultimately want to be, which is consistently winning. That’s what’s eluded us this season—the ability to put winning runs together, which is the defining thing we need to do."