A frustrated Alan Shearer made his feelings known live on air when a penalty decision went against Newcastle in the early stages of their crucial Premier League clash against Arsenal.
In the eighth minute of Sunday's game at St James' Park, a powerful shot from Bruno Guimaraes hit Jakub Kiwior's arm inside the penalty area.
Moments later, referee Chris Kavanagh pointed to the spot but after a lengthy VAR check, the decision was overturned after replays appeared to show that the ball hit Kiwior's thigh before striking his arm.
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Alan Shearer, however, was far from convinced. In fact, the former Newcastle striker lost his cool when debating the controversial decision with former top flight referee Dermot Gallagher.
Speaking in a segment on the Premier League Productions show, Shearer asked: “You think Dermot or you know?” when a replay emerged on screen.
Gallagher replied: “Well I’m convinced it’s hit the top of his thigh.”
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Shearer, still not having the call, said: “Are you 100 per cent certain that hit the top of his leg and it’s an absolute howler from the referee?”
Gallagher hit back: “I think the fact is he’s given the penalty that I don’t think is handball."
It didn't stop there. Shearer then replied: “Can you answer the question?” before Gallagher responded: “Yeah I think it is a howler,”
Shearer quickly added: “Are you absolutely 100 per cent certain that has hit his leg on the replays that you’ve seen? Because I can’t see it, you must have better eyes than I have, and why’s it taken seven replays if it’s that certain?”
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Ian Wright, who was sat next to Shearer on punditry duty, then added his two cents to the debate, saying, “There it is. There it is" when the replays were played.
Here's how social media reacted to the heated interaction.
One said: "Shearer was pure fuming, literally sounding like my old head of year for not knowing who threw the rubber."
A second wrote: "That’s embarrassing. I’ve never felt sorry for Dermot Gallagher before but watching this I do! It’s never a penalty and a time when VAR has actually done its job."
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A third commented: "It never even hit his arm, even after hitting his leg."
A fourth added: "He is right though. Why did it take that long if it’s clear and obvious? Takes way to long."
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Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, who was on commentary duty for the game, thought the referee and his officials made the right decision.
"Kiwior looks sheepish.. he tries to pull his arm away, but it is the pace of the ball and the distance... he will get away with that, he must make the ref have a look at that again," Neville said on Sky Sports.
"The Newcastle players are having a right go at the ref, but they have not seen that it hit his leg first. The ref and the officials at Stockley Park have got that right."
Thoughts on the decision?
Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image Credit: Twitter/Premier League Productions - AlamyTopics: Newcastle United, Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, Arsenal, Premier League
