UEFA rules that show why Mbappe was awarded late penalty against Newcastle

Newcastle’s historic win against PSG in the Champions League was thwarted by a controversial late penalty awarded to Kylian Mbappe.

The Magpies, leading through Alexander Isak’s first-half goal, seemed very likely for a remarkable double over PSG until a VAR-reviewed decision in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

The penalty was given against Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, who was deemed to have handled the ball after a cross from Ousmane Dembele bounced off his chest onto his arm.

Referee Szymon Marciniak initially dismissed PSG’s protests but reversed his decision after consulting the monitors.

However, the UEFA guidelines on handball which was reviewed by pundits in the aftermath, revealed that under UEFA rules, Livramento was adjudged to have made his body unnaturally bigger by the use of his arm.

However, under proposed changes for the 2023/24 season, Livramento’s action might not have resulted in a penalty.

Although it has not been passed into law yet, but UEFA has recommended that no handball offence should be called if the ball is previously deflected from another part of the body and does not go towards the goal, just as is the case in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, while expressing his disappointment, said it shouldn’t have been a penalty.

“I didn’t think it was a penalty. It hits his chest first. If it hits his hands first, well, it’s still not a penalty because he’s so close.

“It’s not a penalty when it hits his chest first and then hits his hand, which is low,” he added.