Newcastle were excellent as they romped to an 8-0 victory away at Sheffield United, but the match may have turned out differently after a controversial moment early on in the game.
Sean Longstaff opened the scoring in the first half following some excellent work from Anthony Gordon, but some have argued that this goal should not have stood because of a handball from Gordon in the build-up.
Gordon stopped the ball from going out of play, and the ball bounced up and hit his hand before he crossed it to Longstaff who finished well, and the goal was allowed to stand following a VAR check.
Speaking on Sky Sports, former referee Dermot Gallagher has now explained why the goal was allowed to stand for Newcastle, as a result of the current rules about deliberate handbells.
“Bit by bit, the whole of the ball has to be over the whole of the line, it obviously isn’t, as when he brings it back, it strikes his hand which ironically keeps it in play,” he stated of Gordon.
“It was deemed not deliberate, he doesn’t score, so, therefore, the new interpretation is that it has to be a deliberate handball, given as deliberate. The referee said no, the VAR said no, so the goal is given.”
Was Gordon lucky with this decision?
The interpretation of his handball not being deliberate is what ultimately led to the goal being given, and it was a stroke of luck for Gordon.
Whilst he did not purposefully use his hand to keep the ball in play, the ball colliding with it meant it stayed in conveniently, and this was much to the benefit of Gordon and to the detriment of Sheffield United.
Gordon went on to deliver a stunning individual display for which he was given the man of the match award, in what was Newcastle’s best performance of the season so far.
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