Ex-Premier League referee: Newcastle victims of ‘clear’ injustice as controversial Saint-Maximin footage emerges
Newcastle United should have had a penalty in their 1-0 win over Leeds United on Saturday (22 January), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Robin Koch’s challenge on Allan Saint-Maximin was “the clearest penalty you could see”.
In the 80th minute with the scores level, Koch swipes Saint-Maximin’s legs away as he checks back on himself with the ball.
Chris Kavanagh, who was some distance away from play, waved away Newcastle’s appeals away and VAR official Kevin Friend did not see it as a clear and obvious error.
Saint-Maxmimin took to Twitter to agree with one fan who claimed the incident was “definitely a penalty”.
“It’s a penalty,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“This is the clearest penalty you could see as a referee.
“You have to say, where was he? At this level, we’re talking about professional elite referees and once again Chris Kavanagh was not at the races mentally and physically. He’s not in position and I think this is a bad miss.
“I thought when he was introduced he would really reach the top level because he’s a good decision maker but I’ve just seen him drift. Mentally he drifts and physically he drifts.
“This is a penalty kick and it has an impact on the game.”
Newcastle were able to secure all three points at Elland Road via a Jonjo Shelvey free-kick in the 85th minute.
It was just their second league win of the season and leaves them one point from safety going into the winter break.
In other news, Newcastle United have agreed a new hire from an English club.