The tension in the tunnel at the Parc des Princes was thick enough to cut with a knife as the first half drew to a close on Wednesday night. Newcastle United’s captain, Dan Burn, found himself in a position that has become all too familiar for the Magpies in European competition: seeking answers from a referee after a series of baffling decisions.
The match against Paris Saint-Germain was barely a minute old when the first controversy struck, and by the time the whistle blew for the interval, the Newcastle squad was simmering with a sense of profound injustice.
At the heart of the frustration was Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić, whose interpretation of the handball rule seemed to shift depending on which end of the pitch the incident occurred. In the very first minute, young Lewis Miley was penalized when a ball ricocheted off PSG’s Bradley Barcola and struck his arm from point-blank range.
Vinčić initially waved play on, but the VAR intervened, leading to a pitchside review and a subsequent penalty. While Nick Pope eventually spared Miley’s blushes with a magnificent save from Ousmane Dembele, the tone for a chaotic evening had been set.
The real anger, however, boiled over just before halftime. Following a long throw-in from Lewis Hall, Dan Burn flicked the ball into the danger zone, where it appeared to strike the arm of PSG defender Marquinhos.
To the eyes of the Newcastle players and the coaching staff, it was a carbon copy of the incident that had gone against them moments earlier. Yet, this time, the referee dismissed the claims almost instantly, and the VAR remained silent. It was a staggering lack of consistency that left manager Eddie Howe vocal on the touchline and led to a heated exchange in the tunnel.
Speaking to the media after the 1-1 draw, Dan Burn revealed exactly what was said when he confronted Vinčić during the break. According to the Newcastle skipper, he approached the official to ask for a logical explanation as to why the two incidents were treated differently.
The referee’s response was as blunt as it was frustrating; he simply told Burn that he had looked at the Marquinhos incident and determined it was “not similar” to the one involving Miley. For Burn and his teammates, this was a difficult pill to swallow, as the visual evidence suggested otherwise.
Burn admitted that he was surprised by the early penalty given against his side, noting that the handball regulations in European competition often feel alien to players accustomed to the Premier League’s standards.
However, rather than letting the frustration boil over into a lack of discipline, the squad used the sense of injustice as fuel. Burn pointed out that this reaction is a sign of the growing maturity within the Newcastle ranks. In previous campaigns, a decision that outrageous might have caused the team to lose their focus, but on this night, they dug in and fought back.
The captain suggested that the “us against the world” mentality often brings out the best in this group of players. When they feel the odds are stacked against them whether by the opposition or the officials they tend to find a higher level of intensity.
This grit allowed them to withstand an early PSG onslaught and eventually find an equalizer through Joe Willock. Burn emphasized that while the officiating was poor, the team should not let it overshadow what was a brave and tactically disciplined performance against one of the most talented teams in the world.
Tactically, the game was a test of Newcastle’s adaptability. Eddie Howe opted for a 3-4-2-1 formation, bringing Burn back into a central defensive trio alongside Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman. It was a significant departure from their usual system, and Burn was honest about the challenges of making such a switch in a high-pressure environment.
He admitted it took about twenty minutes for the players to find their rhythm in the new shape. However, he credited the manager’s preparation, stating that the squad has a deep trust in Howe’s “process.” According to Burn, the team usually gets a result when they stick to the script provided by the coaching staff; it is only when they deviate from the game plan that they tend to struggle.
| Incident | Official Decision | Outcome |
| Lewis Miley (Handball) | Penalty Awarded (VAR) | Saved by Nick Pope |
| Marquinhos (Handball) | No Penalty | Decision Upheld |
| Joe Willock Goal | Awarded | Match Levelled 1-1 |
The draw leaves Newcastle in a fascinating position as they move into the knockout play-off rounds. While they missed out on automatic qualification for the last sixteen, the performance in Paris has given them a massive confidence boost.
They went toe-to-toe with the European champions on their own turf and refused to be bullied, either by the players or the controversial decisions. Dan Burn’s leadership on and off the pitch was a major factor in that resilience. By standing up to the referee and demanding answers, he ensured that his teammates stayed focused on the task at hand rather than getting lost in their grievances.
As the team prepares for their next domestic challenge against Liverpool at Anfield, the lessons from the Parc des Princes will be vital. They have proven that they can adapt their system, weather a storm, and maintain their composure in the face of blatant inconsistency.
The drama with Slavko Vinčić will likely be discussed by fans for a long time, but for the players, it is already a closed chapter. They have shown the maturity needed for the big stage, and they are ready for whatever the rest of the season throws at them.
