Why VAR did not give a penalty for James Tarkowski’s kick on Sean Longstaff during Burnley vs Newcastle

© Provided by The i Tarkowski’s kick on Longstaff during Burnley v Newcastle (Image: Sky Sports)

From the armpit of Roberto Firmino to the studs of Liam Cooper, VAR’s victims this weekend have been various, with each more baffled than the last.

Newcastle were the latest to bemoan inconsistent refereeing decisions in the first half of their trip to Turf Moor when Steve Bruce’s side were denied a penalty at 1-0 down.

James Tarkowski’s high boot made contact with Sean Longstaff in the penalty area, but Anthony Taylor failed to award a spot-kick.

Despite a VAR check, the Magpies’ appeals were waved away, with the explanation understood to be that because Tarkowski did make contact with the ball and Longstaff lowered his head into the challenge.

i also understands that had the referee awarded the penalty on the field, it is unlikely that the VAR would have overturned it because of the subjectivity of the decision.

Sky Sports pundits hit out at VAR, with Micah Richards slamming the technology as “inconsistent”. “It’s a foul, it’s dangerous,” Richards said.

Jamie Redknapp echoed his thoughts, adding: “Anywhere else on the pitch, it’s a foul so why’s it not a penalty?”

Presenter Dave Jones explained, using guidance from PGMOL, that “Tarkowski has played the ball first and then Longstaff has stooped to put his head into that area” and that the decision would not be overturned because it was not a “clear and obvious error”.

Following that controversy, second-half goals from Jacob Murphy and Allan Saint-Maximin turned the game on its head for Bruce’s side in their bid for Premier League survival.