The Premier League Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has now given its verdict on three incidents concerning Newcastle United.
The KMI panel has five members, made up of three former players and/or coaches, plus one representative each from the Premier League and PGMOL (Now ‘Pro Ref’).
It was set up at the start of the 2022/23 season to give an independent assessment of decision-making rather than relying on the views of PGMOL or the clubs themselves.
The judgement is intended to provide an arm’s-length assessment of all major match incidents but gives weight to the decision of the referee in subjective situations, taking into account the laws of the game and the Premier League’s interpretation.
The Premier League Key Match Incidents Panel have looked at the Leeds United v Newcastle United match that was played on Monday 14 September 2026 and voted on three separate incidents.
First incident
Only a minute into the Leeds v Newcastle match a VAR review adjudged the ball to have inadvertently hit Fernandez-Pardo’s arm and confirmed the on the pitch referee’s call of no penalty. The Premier League Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel have now voted unanimously (5:0) that the referee and VAR were correct.
The Premier League Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel wrote: “The referee’s call of no penalty for a potential handball offence against Matias Fernandez-Pardo was supported with his arms in an expected position given the bounce of the ball. There was no movement of the arm towards the ball.”
Second incident
Later in the game, Dominic Calvert-Lewin appeared to deliberately elbow Sven Botman in the face. The Leeds striker looking behind to see where the Newcastle defender was, before swinging his arm into Botman’s face. It looked like it could/should have been a red card but the referee only giving a yellow, the VAR not intervening.
The Premier League Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel once again voting 5:0 that the decision from both the on the pitch referee and the VAR was correct.
The panel stating: “The referee’s call of no red card for violent conduct against Calvert-Lewin was supported. Calvert-Lewin stood his ground and used his arms to protect the space. There was no movement of the arm towards Botman.”
Third incident
During the second half Newcastle United claimed a penalty when Tarik Muharemovic’ appeared to foul Harvey Barnes.
Yet again, the referee on the pitch didn’t give NUFC the decision and said no penalty, with the VAR once more deciding not to intervene.
One of the five members of the panel thought they got it wrong and it should have been a penalty.
The Premier League Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel stating: “The referee’s call of no penalty for a potential foul by Muharemovic on Barnes was supported, 4:1, with the contact not meeting the threshold for a foul.”