Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer launched a furious on-air attack after what they branded 'one of the worst decisions ever in football' as Newcastle dumped Aston Villa out of the FA Cup in a night of refereeing chaos.
With VAR not in operation for the fourth-round tie – even at a Premier League ground – officials were left exposed as three major flashpoints left players, managers and pundits seething.
The controversy began early when Tammy Abraham fired Villa ahead, latching onto Douglas Luiz’s clever free-kick before controlling and finishing past Newcastle goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
But replays suggested the 28-year-old, who only completed his move from Besiktas last month, had mistimed his run.
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Assistant referee Nick Greenhalgh kept his flag down.
BBC co-commentator Danny Murphy was unconvinced, saying: “He looks a yard off to me.”
If that decision sparked frustration, what followed ignited fury.
Lucas Digne somehow avoided a red card after launching into a high sliding challenge on Jacob Murphy.
Tammy Abraham scored for Aston Villa against Newcastle on Saturday
|PA
Referee Chris Kavanagh produced only a yellow – and without VAR, there was no opportunity for the punishment to be upgraded.
Murphy later claimed the French defender was “lucky” to escape without his marching orders.
But the most astonishing moment came after the break.
Digne blocked a cross with his elbow clearly inside the penalty area – yet Kavanagh awarded only a free-kick.
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Lucas Digne was let off the hook for Aston Villa against Newcastle
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Replays showed the defender was several yards within the box, prompting disbelief both in the stands and in the studio.
Rooney did not hold back.
“That decision is one of the worst decisions I have ever seen in football because at no stage was Digne out the penalty box. He is three or four yards inside the penalty box,” he said.
“The referee looked like he blew and it looked like he was listening on his ‘ears’ so I’m assuming the linesman has given that decision – and it’s an absolute shocker.”
Shearer was equally scathing, reserving particular criticism for the assistant official.
“There was perhaps a small excuse for the referee to not see this – and I’m being kind to him,” he said.
“But there was no excuse whatsoever for the assistant who is 10 or 15 yards away – Nick Greenhalgh, who had an absolute nightmare today.
Newcastle United progressed to the FA Cup fifth round with a commanding 3-1 triumph over Aston Villa at Villa Park | GETTY“He cost for the offside free-kick and was 15 yards away from that – goodness me.
“If you ever needed any evidence of the damage VAR has done to the referees today is a great example of that because these guys looked petrified to make decisions because they didn’t have a comfort blanket.
“That’s the damage VAR has done to officials. For me they are actually getting worse.
“I really don’t think that is a difficult decision at all, in fact it is easy, and at this standard that has to be given. There is no excuse for the assistant not to tell his referee. He has got that totally wrong.”
There was further drama before the interval when Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot was sent off after racing from his area and clattering Murphy near the halfway line – one key call that did go Newcastle’s way.
Despite the officiating storm, Eddie Howe’s side responded emphatically. Sandro Tonali struck twice to turn the tie around before Nick Woltemade sealed a 3-1 victory, with the Magpies now in the hat for Monday's fifth round draw.