The VAR who awarded PSG‘s controversial added-time penalty against Newcastle has been removed from duty for another Champions League game on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Kylian Mbappe converted a hugely contentious penalty in the 98th-minute after Newcastle defender Tino Livramento was adjudged by VAR to have handled the ball when blocking a cross.
Polish VAR Tomasz Kwiatkowski sent referee Szymon Marciniak to the monitor in added time, before the official opted to award the hosts with the spot-kick.
Kwiatkowski had been scheduled to take on the VAR role for Real Sociedad’s clash with RB Salzburg tonight however he has now been replaced by German official Marco Fritz.
A host of pundits and fans were left enraged and baffled at the awarding of a controversial late penalty to PSG as they denied Eddie Howe’s side a famous away win in the Champions League.
Polish VAR Tomasz Kwiatkowski has been removed from duty for Wednesday night’s Champions League fixtures
PSG were awarded an injury time penalty after the ball struck Tino Livramento on the elbow
Newcastle were minutes from a 1-0 victory in the French capital after Alexander Isak’s first-half strike, which would have seen Howe’s side move up to second.
However, the hosts were given the chance to draw level from the spot after Livramento was adjudged to have handled in the box, after the ball hit his chest and then struck elbow.
Mbappe dispatched the resulting penalty to secure a 1-1 draw, with the result leaving PSG’s hopes of reaching the knock-out stage in their own hands.
Referee Marciniak, who oversaw the last year’s World Cup final and the 2023 Champions League final, had also been praised for his performance by former Newcastle midfielder Jermaine Jenas prior to the penalty decision.
Jenas, however, claimed Marciniak had caved to the pressure of the PSG players when he eventually decided to award the penalty.
‘I think it’s a shocker. The referee had such a good game but he’s caved really,’ Jenas said.
‘For that to happen, in that moment like that, after Newcastle performed the way they did, it doesn’t feel right. It’s a bitter pill to swallow.’
Kwiatkowski had been scheduled to be the VAR for Real Sociedad’s clash with RB Salzburg
Referee Szymon Marciniak made the decision to award the late penalty after the VAR review
Newcastle remain third in the Champions League group ahead of the final round of matches, with Howe’s side two points adrift of PSG.
PSG travel to face group leaders Borussia Dortmund in their final match with the German side already assured of a place in the last-16.
Newcastle will host AC Milan on December 13 with Howe’s side needing a favour from Dortmund.
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