Dermot Gallagher reviews controversial decisions in the Premier League after each round of games, on behalf of Sky Sports.
The former top referee has now given his call on this incident in the Crystal Palace v Newcastle United match.
Dermot Gallagher looking at what happened during a key moment in this match at Selhurst Park.
United taking the lead just before half-time, only for two late Palace goals winning the match.
So what about this ‘controversial’ incident…
Dermot Gallagher talking to Sky Sports about this Crystal Palace v Newcastle United controversial incident:
INCIDENT:
Crystal Palace were awarded a stoppage-time penalty after Sven Botman pulled Jefferson Lerma’s shirt at a long throw.
DERMOT GALLAGHER:
“Without doubt [it was a penalty], he grabs hold of his shirt, and once he does that, he’s at risk. He doesn’t need to do it and pulls his shirt.”
SKY SPORTS PUNDIT AND FORMER PLAYER JAY BOTHROYD:
“That’s always going to be given. It’s clear. Botman’s holding onto him for too long. It’s a clear penalty.”
MY VIEW
My view is that Sven Botman was daft to do what he did, giving the referee an opportunity to hand Palace the chance to win the game from the penalty spot.
However, was that really a penalty? When you see what goes on at every set-piece now, players grabbed and blocked and so on, was this a penalty that would normally be given?
Just look at what Reece James got away with in both of the Chelsea matches against Newcastle United! Two clear penalties should have been given at St James’ Park and at Stamford Bridge last month, James rugby-tackled Thiaw (I think it was) as a corner came in. Yet none of these seeing a penalty awarded.
CONSISTENCY
We are surely only looking for consistency and at Palace, that penalty will very rarely be given.
Indeed, we have a perfect comparison, an exact same incident.
On 21 September 2025, Newcastle United played out a boring 0-0 draw at Bournemouth. It was actually a very similar match to yesterday at Palace. A game neither side deserved to win with so few chances at either end. Two matches where match officials though played a huge role in the final scoreline.
When I talk of consistency, I am referring to both the match officials AND Dermot Gallagher.
This is how Sky Sports reported a key “Ref Watch” moment in that Bournemouth v Newcastle 0-0 draw in September 2025 AND what Dermot Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd had to say about it…
INCIDENT:
Newcastle’s penalty appeals are turned down when Nick Woltemade falls to the grounds in the penalty area, clearly has his shirt pulled back for a period of seconds by Bournemouth’s Bafode Diakite.
DERMOT GALLAGHER:
“Is there enough to go down like that?”
FORMER PLAYER JAY BOTHROYD ON SKY SPORTS:
“If he [Nick Woltemade] was smaller, would you give him the benefit of the doubt? I would want it if I was playing but can understand why you would say it would be soft.
“When there are situations with taller players, they always say ‘he should be stronger, look how big he is’. But a foul is a foul. Pulling a shirt is pulling a shirt.
“If the ref did give a penalty, people might be surprised but would say, ‘I understand why he’s given it’. You’ve seen penalties given for things like that.”
MY VIEW
So Dermot Gallagher thought it wasn’t a penalty for Woltemade at Bournemouth BUT “without doubt” it was for Palace and Lerma yesterday.
When Nick Woltemade didn’t get that penalty at Bournemouth, he had received the ball in the middle of the box only around eight yards out when he had his shirt pulled. Whereas Lerma on Sunday was moving away from goal and simply going to try and meet the ball as it was put into the box and help it on, not a big threatening position at all.
Crystal Palace 2 Newcastle 1 – Sunday 12 April 2026 2pm
Match Stats
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Osula 43
Palace:
Mateta 80, 90+4 pen
Possession was Newcastle 59% Palace 41%
Total shots were Newcastle 7 Palace 11
Shots on target were Newcastle 3 Palace 5
Corners were Newcastle 4 Palace 2
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 14 Palace 21
Newcastle team v Crystal Palace:
Ramsdale; Livramento, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Miley, Tonali (Elanga 95), Joelinton (Ramsey 84); Murphy (Wissa 95), Osula (Woltemade 84), Gordon (Barnes 71)
Unused subs:
Pope, Trippier, Burn, Willock