UEFA remove VAR official from Champions League fixture after controversial Newcastle handball penalty against PSG

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) who reviewed the penalty given to PSG against Newcastle has been stood down by UEFA from his Wednesday game.

With Newcastle hanging on to a crucial 1-0 lead deep into added time on Tuesday, a spot-kick was issued following a VAR check after the ball had struck Tino Livramento’s arm.

Referee Szymon Marciniak, who initially waved away calls for a penalty, was encouraged to review the incident on the pitchside monitor by VAR Tomasz Kwiatkowski.

Despite the ball deflecting off Livramento's torso before making contact with his arm from close range, the referee pointed to the spot after viewing the replay.

Kylian Mbappe stepped up to convert the spot kick in the 98th minute as Eddie Howe’s side slipped from second in Group F to third in the dying minutes, with qualification now out of their hands.

Kwiatkowski was due to be on VAR duty for the game between Real Sociedad and FC Salzburg on Wednesday, but according to widespread reports he has been replaced by German Marco Fritz.

The decision to drop the Polish official looks to be an indication that UEFA believes the penalty should not have been awarded.

TNT pundit Jermaine Jenas believes Newcastle were robbed of a crucial result in Paris, while co-commentator Ally McCoist described the penalty decision as ‘a disgrace’ and called for a rule change.

"It comes off his chest and hits his left elbow," McCoist told TNT Sports.

"That is absolutely never a penalty. If we're giving penalty kicks for that in the biggest club competition on the planet, it's a disgrace."

Newcastle still managed to walk away with a point and are still in contention for qualification to the round of 16. A loss would have seen them exit the competition.

They are currently third in the group on five points, with PSG in second on seven.

Leaders Borussia Dortmund have already qualified and host PSG in the final game, where Newcastle will be desperate to see the Parisians drop points.

All the Magpies can do now is beat fourth-place AC Milan - also on five points - when they welcome the Italians to St. James’ Park.

As long as Newcastle do their job and secure three points, a PSG defeat or even a draw would be enough to see Howe’s side through due to their better head-to-head record.

If Newcastle draw with Milan they’ll drop into the Europa League on goal difference, while a defeat would see them eliminated from Europe altogether.

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