The VAR who reviewed the penalty awarded to PSG against Newcastle for a controversial handball has been stood down from his game on Wednesday, Sky Sports News understands.
Tomasz Kwiatkowski asked referee Szymon Marciniak to go to the screen after the review which looked into a potential handball by Tino Livramento – the referee did not give the penalty onfield but reversed the decision after looking at the incident on the screen.
Kwiatkowski was due to be the VAR in tonight’s Champions League game between Real Sociedad and Salzburg but has now been replaced.
Newcastle looked to be heading for a famous 1-0 win at the Parc des Princes until the penalty was awarded against Tino Livramento, allowing Kylian Mbappe to level in the eighth and final minute of added time.
Tim Sherwood and the Soccer Special panel are incensed as PSG are awarded a late penalty for an apparent handball from Tino Livramento
Speaking on Soccer Special, former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood labelled the decision “disgusting” while Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said referee Marciniak should have been stronger to disregard Kwiatkowski’s advice.
Regarded as one of the world’s best referees, Szymon Marciniak took charge of last year’s World Cup final between Argentina and France.
The Polish referee was also the man in the middle for June’s Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan.
Howe said in a television interview the referee had been placed under “extreme” pressure by the PSG players, and later labelled a decision which cost his side two precious points “poor” in his post-match press conference.
Had Newcastle won in the French capital they would have had their Champions League destiny in their own hands, but now must beat AC Milan in their final group game and hope Dortmund get at least a point against PSG to progress to the knockout stages.
