The final whistle at St. James’ Park may have signaled the end of the match, but for Newcastle United and their supporters, the conversation about one pivotal moment was just beginning.
The dramatic 2-1 loss to Arsenal, sealed by a gut-wrenching goal in the 95th minute, has been overshadowed by a controversial decision that has everyone in the football world talking.
The incident in question occurred deep into stoppage time, a period already charged with tension.
As Newcastle fought desperately to salvage a point, a shot from Anthony Elanga inside the Arsenal penalty area seemed to be heading toward its target.
Instead, the ball made clear contact with the arm of Arsenal defender Gabriel, instantly prompting furious appeals for a penalty from the Newcastle players and a roar of expectation from the home crowd.
To the utter disbelief of almost everyone in black and white, the referee, Simon Hooper, allowed play to continue.
There was no whistle, no point to the spot, and perhaps most surprisingly, no lengthy review from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.
This single non-call has become the central talking point of the entire match, leaving many to wonder how such a seemingly obvious handball could go unpunished at the highest level of the game.
In the midst of this debate, a voice with significant authority has weighed in. Mark Halsey, a former Premier League referee with 14 years of experience at the top of the game, has offered his expert analysis on the incident.
Contrary to the widespread outrage from the Newcastle camp, Halsey has issued a strong verdict in support of the officials, stating that he believes the correct decision was made in not awarding a penalty.
Halsey broke down the sequence of events with a focus on the specific laws of the game. He explained that the key factors were the nature of Gabriel’s movement and the context of the ball’s path.
According to Halsey, Gabriel was in the process of making a blocked tackle, a natural defensive action. When a player goes to ground in such a manner, their arms are often used for balance and support.
Halsey pointedly asked, “When you go to ground, where else can your arm go?” His assessment was that Gabriel’s arm was in a natural position for his body’s movement at that exact moment.
Furthermore, Halsey highlighted two other critical elements: the close proximity between Elanga and Gabriel at the moment the shot was taken, and the sheer pace of the ball.
From his perspective, Gabriel had no time to react or deliberately move his arm toward the ball. The contact was deemed accidental and unavoidable given the circumstances.
He expressed firm belief that even if the VAR, Jarred Gillett, had taken a closer look, he would not have recommended that the referee review the decision on the pitch-side monitor.
For Halsey, the on-field call was correct, and the controversy surrounding it is largely unfounded.
This expert opinion, however, does little to soothe the sense of injustice felt on Tyneside. For the players, the manager, and the fans, it was a clear game-changing moment that went against them.
The incident with Gabriel was not the only contentious call of the afternoon. Earlier in the match, Arsenal had been awarded a penalty after goalkeeper Nick Pope collided with Viktor Gyokeres, only for the decision to be overturned by a VAR review.
This reversal was itself a major talking point, criticized by many pundits. Then, in the first half, the same Arsenal defender, Gabriel, appeared to swing an elbow toward Nick Woltemade, another incident that went unpunished.
This collection of debatable decisions has left Newcastle feeling as if fortune was firmly against them on the day.
The consequence of this result extends far beyond the raw emotion of a single match. For Newcastle, it compounds the frustration of another late defeat, echoing their painful loss to Liverpool earlier in the season.
For Arsenal, the three points were monumental. Coming after Liverpool’s own surprise defeat to Crystal Palace, the Gunners’ last-gasp victory closed the gap at the top of the Premier League table to just two points.
The title race has been thrown wide open, and Arsenal now find themselves in a powerful position as the season reaches its climax.
Ultimately, the discussion about the handball illustrates the ongoing and often frustrating subjectivity in football officiating, even with the aid of technology.
While one side can point to the rulebook and expert analysis to justify the non-call, the other side is left with the indelible image of the ball striking an outstretched arm in the penalty area during the most critical seconds of the game.
It is a debate with no perfect answer, but one that will undoubtedly linger in the memory of this Premier League season as a moment of high drama and profound controversy.
