In a game with massive implications at both ends of the table in the English Championship (Newcastle United aiming for promotion and the title, Burton Albion trying to avoid relegation), match referee Keith Stroud simply and utterly messed up. He and his assistants, for whatever reason, didn’t know the rules and for a long period of time chaos reigned at St. James’ Park.
With the scores level at 0-0 in the 30th-minute, Stroud pointed to the spot after Dwight Gayle was tripped in the area.
29' - PENALTY TO NEWCASTLE! #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 5, 2017
It was a contentious decision, but Matt Ritchie stepped up and converted the spot kick.
The ref orders a retake after Ritchie converts. #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 5, 2017
The referee appears to be debating the rules with the fourth official. #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 5, 2017
The referee has given Burton a free-kick inside the box and the penalty WON'T be retaken!! Incredible! #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 5, 2017
32' - Unbelievable scenes at St. James' Park. Referee Keith Stroud disallows Matt Ritchie's converted penalty and there won't be a retake.
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 5, 2017
The ref in the Newcastle v Burton game disallowed Matt Ritchie's penalty and gave a freekick the other way. Scenes pic.twitter.com/9mE7IWuZ9g
— Soccer Fan Base (@Soccerfanbase) April 5, 2017
37' - The boos return around St. James' Park. The entire ground still baffled by the decision to disallow Ritchie's penalty. #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 5, 2017
Jeff Stelling sums it up #nufc #wtf pic.twitter.com/nr5mlLT5L2
— Richard Jackson (@rdjacko007) April 5, 2017
After the match, since almost any feasible infringement should’ve resulted in retaking the penalty, some speculated that the referee was informed that Gayle had dived in winning the penalty, and that he then took matters into his own hands, outside the laws of the game, to see to it that Newcastle didn’t score.
However, Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the association charged with overseeing all things referee related, confirmed that Stroud saw encroachment from players outside the area before the ball was struck. This should result in a retake, but Stroud and his team suffered a “lapse of concentration” in awarding Burton an indirect free kick instead.
The decision also blew up the ESPN FC match commentary.
Does not compute. Photo: ESPN FC
Stroud and his team have been removed from refereeing duties this weekend after the error.
Newcastle would go on to win the match thanks to a great strike from Ritchie in the 68th-minute, and this one would be allowed to stand.
Matt Ritchie, 1-0! pic.twitter.com/l3zcwFErFl
— ㅤ (@MagpiesRelated) April 5, 2017
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