Newcastle United supporters have been left shaking their heads after footage from Chelsea’s recent match against Bournemouth began circulating online.
What should have been a routine Premier League moment quickly turned into a talking point on Tyneside, reopening old wounds about refereeing decisions and consistency. For many fans, it felt like déjà vu, and the frustration was impossible to ignore.
During the draw at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea were awarded a penalty after Antoine Semenyo was penalised for a challenge inside the box. Cole Palmer stepped up and calmly converted from the spot, giving Chelsea the lead.
While the decision itself was not outrageous, it was the similarity to a recent incident involving Newcastle that caught the eye of supporters.
The challenge from Semenyo looked strikingly close to the one made by Trevoh Chalobah on Anthony Gordon at St James’ Park earlier this month, an incident that did not result in a penalty for Newcastle.
That moment against Chelsea had already caused confusion and anger among the home crowd. Gordon appeared to be impeded in the box, yet the referee waved play on.
VAR reviewed the incident and chose not to overturn the on-field decision. The explanation later offered was that the contact was considered side-to-side, part of a shielding action, and that the ball was within playing distance. While that reasoning may have satisfied officials, it did little to calm Newcastle fans who felt their team had been denied a clear opportunity.
Fast forward to the Chelsea and Bournemouth match, and the sense of injustice returned. Newcastle supporters quickly pointed out the near-identical nature of the two challenges.
One resulted in a penalty, the other did not. It is this lack of consistency that continues to frustrate fans more than any single decision. Football supporters accept that mistakes happen, but what is harder to accept is when similar situations are judged in completely different ways within such a short space of time.
In response to the earlier incident at St James’ Park, Newcastle United did not stay silent. The club formally contacted the PGMOL to ask for clarification on why their penalty appeal was turned down.
Eddie Howe confirmed that the club had taken this step, making it clear that the request was about understanding the decision-making process rather than creating noise. Howe explained that the call came from the club and that they simply wanted to know the thinking behind the ruling.
The Newcastle manager was also careful with his words when asked if such decisions would change how his players defend in the penalty area. He made it clear that he would never want his team to rely on risky challenges that force referees to make difficult calls. In his view, good defending is about avoiding those situations altogether.
Even so, Howe maintained his belief that Newcastle should have been awarded a penalty after reviewing the footage. Still, he stressed the importance of moving forward rather than dwelling on past decisions.
The Chelsea penalty ensured that the London side once again came away with a point, just as they did at St James’ Park. For Newcastle fans, that only added salt to the wound.
Seeing another team benefit from a decision that felt inconsistent with one that went against them has only deepened the sense of unfairness.
On the pitch, Newcastle’s focus has shifted back to results and performances. Since the draw with Chelsea, the Magpies have experienced mixed fortunes away from home, suffering defeat at Old Trafford before bouncing back with a win at Turf Moor.
That victory restored some confidence and provided a reminder of the team’s quality when things click.
Now, attention turns to a busy and exciting run of fixtures at St James’ Park. Newcastle are set to begin the new year with four straight home matches, giving them a chance to build momentum in front of their own supporters.
Crystal Palace are first up in the Premier League, followed by a midweek visit from Leeds United. Shortly after, Bournemouth arrive on Tyneside for an FA Cup tie, offering Newcastle the chance to settle a score on the pitch. That run is capped off by a huge Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Manchester City.
For all the noise around refereeing decisions, Newcastle know the only real answer is to keep winning games and putting themselves beyond doubt.
Still, moments like the Chelsea penalty will continue to fuel debate, especially when fans see similar challenges judged in different ways. Until consistency improves, these conversations are unlikely to disappear, and Newcastle supporters will keep watching closely, hoping that next time, the call goes their way.
