Newcastle denied Anthony Gordon penalty as Alan Shearer slams VAR decision

Newcastle United were left counting the cost of another contentious VAR call on Saturday afternoon as a gripping 2-2 draw with Chelsea at St James’ Park ended with more frustration than satisfaction for Eddie Howe’s side. The key talking point came late on when Anthony Gordon was bundled over inside the penalty area — only for referee Andy Madley and VAR to wave away appeals.

The result itself felt like two points dropped. Newcastle had raced into a commanding first-half lead, only for Chelsea to claw their way back after the break and escape Tyneside with a share of the spoils.

The flashpoint arrived when Trevoh Chalobah made heavy contact with Gordon as the winger attempted to get goal-side in Chelsea’s box. Replays showed no clear touch on the ball, yet VAR ruled the challenge as “side-to-side contact” consistent with shielding.

That explanation did little to calm the reaction. Alan Shearer, speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, did not hold back.

“I mean the penalty decision that they never got was absolutely ridiculous, honestly,” Shearer said, describing the Premier League’s justification as “rubbish”.

Gary Lineker agreed, suggesting Gordon had simply been “rammed straight off”, while Ally McCoist labelled it a “stonewall penalty” on live commentary. Joe Cole also questioned the aggression of the challenge, predicting post-match frustration from Howe.

This draw keeps Newcastle in the thick of a congested Premier League table where fine margins matter. Dropping points at home, particularly after leading by two goals, risks becoming a recurring theme if momentum swings are not managed better.

There is also a psychological layer. Gordon has become one of Newcastle’s most direct attacking outlets, and repeated decisions going against him may influence how defenders approach duels — pushing the limits of physicality knowing VAR intervention is far from guaranteed.

That said, a counterpoint is worth noting. Gordon does invite contact with his aggressive running style, and officials may feel he exaggerates challenges at times. Whether that perception is fair or not, it likely plays into marginal calls like this one.

Beyond the penalty debate, the bigger concern for Howe will be Newcastle’s second-half control. Surrendering a two-goal lead suggests tactical fatigue or a lack of composure when protecting an advantage. This is not new — similar patterns have appeared earlier in the campaign.

If Newcastle want to re-establish themselves as top-four contenders, they must pair intensity with pragmatism. That may mean earlier substitutions, a deeper defensive block when leading, or more disciplined possession phases to slow games down. VAR controversies come and go, but structural game management issues tend to linger.

Attention now turns quickly to Friday night’s trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United. With little recovery time and emotions still raw, Howe’s challenge will be refocusing his squad on performance rather than perceived injustice.

Was this a clear penalty, or are Newcastle paying the price for relying too much on VAR intervention rather than control?