Kane confused by penalty call against Newcastle – should it have been given?

Newcastle picked up their first win of the season on Sunday as they beat Tottenham 1-0 in North London.

Joelinton secured the three points for Steve Bruce’s side, as he swept the ball into the bottom corner in the first half – his first goal for the club.

However, there was a big talking point in the second-half as Mike Dean – the referee – was forced to use VAR to make a decision over a potential penalty.

Harry Kane appeared to have been felled by Jamaal Lascelles in the box, but Dean opted not to award a spot-kick to the home side after consulting with VAR.

As quoted by The Chronicle, Kane said this about the decision:

It is hard to understand how it hasn’t been given. Just like when a keeper comes out, uses his arms and trips you up – it’s a penalty. I kind of tripped over his (Lascelles) arm and then his body.

Whether it was deliberate or not, from my point of view it is hard to take.

I said last week (after the Man City game) that sometimes you are going to get the rub of the green with VAR, sometimes not. I felt it didn’t go our way against Newcastle.

READ NEWCASTLE VERDICT

Newcastle can count themselves a tad fortunate not to have been penalised for the challenge, as it appeared as though Lascelles brought Kane down just as he looked to be in on goal.

Although Kane, it has to be said, also leaned into the challenge, there is no doubting that it was clumsy and dangerous from Lascelles – who may have fouled Kane even if the forward had not forced extra contact.

VAR is a controversial topic and still new to the Premier League, so it will take time for all of the referees to adapt to the system.