This weekend’s Premier League action was full of drama, with controversial refereeing decisions taking center stage in several matches.
Many fans were left with bitter and confused faces after seeing goals stand despite their protests and there were some controversial penalties called for debate.
By the end of Sunday, thousands of spectators were left stunned by some of the Premier League’s laws. So we’ve provided explanations for four of the most high-profile incidents from the weekend’s action.
Why Newcastle’s first goal against Tottenham was allowed
Newcastle’s opening goal in their 2-1 win over Tottenham sparked controversy as replays appeared to show Joelinton handling the ball in the build-up.
As midfielder Lucas Bergvall looked to push the ball past the Brazil international, the ball hit his hand before falling to Bruno Guimaraes, who played in Anthony Gordon for the equalizer.
The goal was allowed after a VAR review.
#TOTNEW – 7′
The referee’s goal call was upheld by VAR, who checked a possible handball from Joelinton in the build-up and judged that his arm was at his side, in a natural position and that the contact was accidental.
– Premier League Match Center (@PLMatchCentre) January 4, 2025
The reason lies in the Premier League handball rules, which distinguish between accidental and deliberate handball.
For handball to disallow a goal in the build-up, the player must either score directly or immediately score a goal.
In this case, Joelinton’s handball was ruled accidental and occurred earlier in the sequence of play, meaning it did not meet the criteria for intervention.
Spurs supporters were left frustrated, arguing that the incident disrupted the fairness of the game, as without his hand to stop the ball they would have outrun Newcastle’s press and gone on the attack.
Why didn’t Gordon get a penalty?
Later in the same match, Newcastle were denied a penalty when Anthony Gordon went down in the box after a challenge from Dejan Kulusevski.
Replays showed Kulusevski leaning on Gordon with his shoulder, which made contact with the winger’s face, leaving him a bloody mess.
Referee Andy Madley waved play on and VAR failed to intervene, leaving Newcastle fans furious. #
Officials ruled that Kulusevski’s contact was accidental and not reckless or excessive, which is necessary for a foul to be committed in such situations.
The decision highlighted the subjective nature of such calls, as many argued that Gordon’s momentum was clearly disrupted by the challenge.
Why Liverpool were awarded a penalty against Manchester United
#LIVMUN – 67′ VAR REVERSAL
VAR recommended an on-field review for a possible handball by de Ligt, believing his arm was raised in an unnatural position. After review, the referee overturned his initial decision of no penalty.
– Premier League Match Center (@PLMatchCentre) January 5, 2025
Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United included a controversial penalty awarded for a handball by Matthijs de Ligt.
As Mohamed Salah attempted a cross, the ball hit De Ligt’s outstretched arm and referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot after a quick VAR check.
The decision was based on updated handball laws, which include rules on abnormal arm positions.
De Ligt’s arm was judged to be in an unnatural position, making his body unnaturally larger and blocking the trajectory of the ball.
Critics argued that De Ligt had little time to react, but under the laws of the game, intention is no longer a necessary factor in handball decisions.
Salah converted the penalty, adding to the frustration of the United fans, especially since they played so well.
Why Brighton were awarded a penalty against Arsenal
#BHAARS – 58′
The referee’s penalty call for a foul by Saliba on João Pedro was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed there was sufficient contact for a penalty.
– Premier League Match Center (@PLMatchCentre) January 4, 2025
Brighton’s clash with Arsenal resulted in another controversial penalty when William Saliba was adjudged to have headbutted Joao Pedro in the box.
The incident occurred during a fight over a stray ball, with Saliba’s forehead coming into contact with Pedro’s head.
Referee Anthony Taylor awarded the penalty and after review the incident was confirmed by VAR.
The key factor was Saliba’s movement towards Pedro, which was interpreted as dangerous and reckless, even though the contact appeared minimal.
Critics of the decision argued that Pedro’s reaction exaggerated the impact, but under current rules this is considered a foul, especially since Saliba did not recover the ball.
