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Mikel Arteta was left fuming on the touchline at St James' Park as his Arsenal side was denied a penalty in the Premier League, with cries of 'conspiracy' circling online.
Referee Jarred Gillett, who was born in Australia but lives in the Liverpool region and is therefore unable to take charge of matches involving the Reds, initially gave a penalty to Arsenal for a Nick Pope foul on Viktor Gyokeres. However, the VAR, Darren England, intervened and asked the on-field official to go to the screen.
After a lengthy delay, Gillett announced his decision to the stadium. "After review, the Newcastle goalkeeper plays the ball and there is no foul," he said. "The final decision is drop ball."
That left Arteta incensed despite it ultimately being the right call, and he was only made even angrier when Arsenal conceded a goal to a Nick Woltemade header.
The German striker gave a slight touch to the back of Gabriel as he jumped up to contest for the ball. Gillett decided that there was minimal contact that was not sufficient to see the player fall down, and the VAR agreed.
Predictably, plenty on social media decided that these decisions were a sign of corruption, which has become the buzzword in the Premier League when things happen that fans don't like.
Inside St James' Park, meanwhile, Newcastle fans became increasingly frustrated with Arsenal's attempts to win free-kicks and Bukayo Saka could be seen questioning several decisions in an intense battle in the North East.
"Viktor Gyokeres kicks it against Nick Pope's feet," Gary Neville said on Sky Sports commentary. "Pope has still blocked Viktor Gyokeres.
"Gyokeres touches the ball and then there is a touch and then he takes him down after that. I'm a little bit torn. I think the referee is debating it with Stockley Park.”
"If Pope touches the ball, then it's not a penalty — and he does touch it before he hits Gyokeres," former England goalkeeper Joe Hart said. "If you break it down and see why it's not been given, then you can't argue with the decision."
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Former Chelsea striker Pat Nevin wasn’t in agreement with the decision, however. "It is not how I saw it," he said on BBC Radio 5Live. "I have to be honest, the VAR has looked at it and the referee has looked at it.
"Yes, he got a touch on it but he still took out the player. But I am looking at it from the forward's perspective."
Liverpool lost 2-1 at Crystal Palace on Saturday. A win for Arsenal at Newcastle would cut the gap between the teams to just two points with six matches played apiece.
Liverpool.com says: Referees and VAR do make mistakes and we have seen that plenty of times, but the constant claims about corruption — not just online, but in stadiums too — is exhausting. On this occasion, Gillett got both big calls right.
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