A 2-0 home victory, a clean sheet, and a striker in form on the surface, Newcastle United’s win over Nottingham Forest was the perfect way to head into the international break.
For manager Eddie Howe and the fans, the three points were a welcome relief after a tricky start to the season. The goals from Bruno Guimaraes and Nick Woltemade will be remembered as the decisive moments, the kind of quality that wins football matches.
However, beneath the satisfaction of the result, a familiar and contentious shadow has been cast, one that has left the visiting team and some impartial observers feeling a deep sense of injustice.
The controversy centered on the opening goal, a beautiful, curling effort from captain Bruno Guimaraes that broke the deadlock just before the hour mark.
As the home crowd celebrated, the Nottingham Forest players immediately surrounded the referee, Peter Bankes, protesting vehemently. Their anger was directed not at the finish, but at the moments that led up to it.
They were adamant that a foul should have been awarded to them just seconds before the ball hit the net.
According to Forest, the move that led to the goal began with a foul by Guimaraes on their playmaker, Morgan Gibbs-White. The argument was that the Brazilian midfielder, in winning the ball, followed through with a push that sent Gibbs-White tumbling to the ground.
From Newcastle’s perspective, it was a strong, fair challenge. From Forest’s viewpoint, it was a clear foul that was missed, and the referee’s decision to allow play to continue directly resulted in them conceding a goal.
This is where the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system comes into play. Its purpose is to correct clear and obvious errors in game-changing situations, exactly like a potential foul in the build-up to a goal.
On this occasion, the VAR officials at Stockley Park reviewed the incident and decided there was no reason to overturn the on-field decision. The goal stood, and Newcastle had their crucial lead.
The debate has now been amplified by a voice that carries significant weight in such matters. Keith Hackett, the former head of the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL), which is responsible for referees in England, has publicly stated that the officials got it wrong.
In a detailed analysis, Hackett explained that in his professional opinion, Guimaraes did commit a foul. He pointed to the movement of the player’s arms, stating they went from a bent to a straight position, which in his view clearly indicated a push.
He also suggested that Gibbs-White’s “exaggerated fall” might have influenced the referee, who was close to the action, to believe it was a dive or simulation, rather than a genuine foul.
This incident is particularly notable because it is the second week in a row that a major refereeing decision involving Newcastle has been a major talking point.
In their previous match against Arsenal, a penalty initially awarded to the Gunners was overturned by a VAR review, a decision that was widely criticized by pundits and Arsenal supporters.
For Newcastle, these two incidents represent a welcome shift in fortune after a period where they felt key decisions were going against them. For their opponents and neutral analysts, it raises questions about consistency and the fine margins that can define a football match.
For Eddie Howe, the most important thing is the result on the scoreboard. He will be delighted with the character his team showed and the quality of the goals they scored.
The performance of Bruno Guimaraes, who was instrumental throughout, and the growing confidence of Nick Woltemade are the positive takeaways he will focus on.
Yet, the lingering controversy serves as a reminder of how fragile a victory can feel in the modern game.
A single decision, reviewed in a studio miles away from the stadium, can change everything. While Newcastle fans will celebrate a hard-fought win, the discussion around this match will be split.
One narrative will be about a team finding its rhythm and securing a important three points. The other will be about a contentious refereeing call that, for Nottingham Forest and experts like Keith Hackett, means this victory comes with a significant and frustrating asterisk.
