Newcastle United VAR penalty controversy deepens after the club seeks clarification over a rejected spot-kick against Chelsea

Newcastle United have formally asked the Professional Game Match Officials Limited to clarify a disputed refereeing decision following a rejected penalty appeal in the Premier League draw with Chelsea at St James’ Park on Saturday.

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The request followed an incident involving Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah and Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon, which Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe described as a “stonewall” penalty.

Referee Andy Madley declined to award a spot-kick, and the video assistant referee upheld the on-field decision.

According to BBC Sport, the Premier League Match Centre later stated that Chalobah was judged to be side-to-side with Gordon in a shielding action, with the ball within playing distance.

Howe said Newcastle United had already contacted officials to understand the rationale behind the decision.

“A call has already gone in,” Howe said. “We just want to know the thought process behind the decision.”

At the time of the incident, Newcastle United were leading 2-1.

Chelsea later equalised through João Pedro after a costly slip, allowing the visitors to secure a 2-2 draw.

The result extended a worrying trend for Newcastle United, who have now dropped 13 points from winning positions, the highest total in the Premier League this season.

The club currently sits 11th in the league table and has recorded only one away win ahead of its Boxing Day trip to Manchester United.

Despite the frustration, Howe struck a resilient tone.

“My glass is very much half full,” Howe said. “We are moving in the right direction, but we have a lot of work to do.”

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He added that consistency and sustained winning runs remain the defining challenge for the side.