Interesting to read through these BBC Sport comments, following on from Newcastle United winning 3-1 away at Aston Villa.
The comments from neutrals especially telling…
A lot of it different to what Newcastle United fans had come to expect from the BBC Sport ‘neutrals’.
The BBC Sport comments from neutrals in the past had been overwhelmingly a catalogue of abuse aimed at NUFC supporters.
Particularly stuff about the Newcastle United owners and the media-inspired pile-ons that NUFC fans have become used to, when blamed for who now owns their club.
On this occasion the politics (almost!) entirely absent, concentrating instead on matters on the pitch…
The BBC Sport readers comments from neutrals, Aston Villa fans, one or two Newcastle supporters also contributing:
‘This game may as well have been a 90 minute advert for VAR. The villa goal, the digne foul and the handball….the officials almost completely cooked Newcastle tonight.’
‘And the Hall penalty which wasn’t given ,I hope the officials are investigated, shocking.’
‘Was always this way, even before VAR. Today only proved the necessity of technology to advance fair outcomes.’
‘Totally agree. We have got to have VAR and I’m a Sunderland supporter.’
‘The ref issue of this game is they have become so reliant on VAR they’re just muppets and leave it to their mates in the VAR room. line judges’ flags should be going up right away otherwise what are they doing???’
‘That’s why they did it (Introducing VAR).’
‘Villa fan, congrats to Toon, the game turned after the sending off. I’d say we were comfortable until that red card. (Despite the fact our goal shouldn’t have stood & Digne should have been sent off), but after the sending off there was only 1 winner.’
‘Think yourself lucky you are in the premier league with var because the standard of refereeing is even worse than what you have witnessed tonight in the EFL divisions’
‘Villa fan – well done Newcastle, justice done in the end. Both teams with lots left to play for, we go again.’
‘Pure neutral here. What a great blood and thunder cup tie. Well done to Newcastle who had they have lost ,it would have been a terrible injustice. Terrible referring, Villa’s goal offside, Villa should have been down to nine men and Newcastle were denied a stonewall penalty. Still justice was done in the end.’
‘Riyadh losing is never an injustice.’
‘And that’s why we need VAR.
Far from ideal though it is, it’s necessary to stop ridiculous injustices and/or officials deciding matches.’
‘Newcastle had a goal disallowed on Tuesday for the player being 1cm offside, no Liverpool tolerance for us.’
‘Got to be the worst referees game I’ve ever watched…
Best of luck Newcastle, UTV’
‘Referees (and linesmen especially) have always been poor. To suggest VAR has made them poorer (as Alan Shearer suggests) is nonsense because they were ALREADY BAD. That is the reason VAR came in in the first place.’
‘I think the officials had a bet or two on tonight. Did their best for it to pay out.
Need investigating.’
‘Can anyone give me a GOOD reason for not using VAR in cup games when available. I can’t think of one.’
‘Bizot does a Martinez and when Unai took Rogers and Luiz off he knew our game was done. We ((Villa) were fortunate with a couple of decisions, but no doubt Tonali and Newcastle deserved the win.’
‘Fortunate with a couple of decisions …that’s the understatement of the year so far !’
‘Headline should read “Newcastle beat 9 men Aston Villa 3-0”
That ‘non-penalty’ hand ball decision against Lucas Digne was so bad, it was laughable!
Well done Newcastle, no complaints. Wish you all the best in the next round.’
‘The immutable rule of football is anything that needs doing, Newcastle have to do it the hard way.’
‘Apart from the red card for Bizot, the standard of officiating from the ref and linesman were beyond ridiculous.
How can the linesman and ref not see the handball was in the box.
They should be demoted after this performance.
Justice served for Newcastle.’
‘I did not watch the game. How bad were the match officials?’
‘Imagine the worst refereeing performance possible. Then understand it was 10x worse than that. Incompetence that merits investigation. Seriously.’