Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes that Newcastle United had a perfectly good goal incorrectly ruled out against Nottingham Forest, a decision that pundit Stephen Warnock called "bizarre".
In the second half Elliott Anderson headed the ball past Keylor Navas following a floated cross from Alexander Isak. But it was ruled out following a VAR check which deemed Sean Longstaff to be offside in the buildup.
Matchday referee Paul Tierney went to his pitchside monitor and made the call after an intervention by VAR. He decided the ball was inadvertently deflected toward Longstaff, who was in an offside position.
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The decision has confused many pundits, as Felipe seemingly deliberately cleared the ball rather than deflect it in the Newcastle player's direction. Gallagher believes the goal should have stood for that reason.
"I don't know why the VAR got involved. The goal should have stood," the Irishman told Sky Sports.
"One of the biggest clues was that Nottingham Forest set to kick off and they were waiting to kick off again when there was the delay checking the goal.
"I don't really see why the VAR got involved because for me, Felipe clearly goes to kick the ball out for a corner. Jacob Murphy, who isn't in an offside position, behind him would intercept the ball and he knows that.
"If we go through the laws, has the ball travelled from distance? Definitely. Has the player had a clear view? Definitely. Was the ball moving quickly? Not particularly. Was the direction of the ball unexpected? It's come to him, and he's gone to intercept the ball. Has he had time to coordinate his body movement? He's gone to kick it out for a corner, which you'd expect a defender to do in that position."
He concluded: "It ticks all the boxes so for me it's a goal."
Warnock agreed with Gallagher's assessment. "It should have stood. It was really bizarre why it even got to that point," the former Liverpool and Aston Villa defender said.
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