This weekend's Premier League matches were full of drama, with controversial refereeing decisions taking center stage in several matches.
Many fans made sad faces and confusion after seeing the goals stand despite their protests and there were a few controversial calls for penalty kicks that were mooted.
By the end of Sunday, thousands of spectators were left stunned by some of the Premier League's rules, so we've provided explanations for four of the most famous incidents from the weekend's events.
Why was Newcastle's first goal awarded against Tottenham?
Newcastle's opening goal in their 2-1 win over Tottenham sparked controversy as replays appeared to show Joelinton handling the ball during the build-up.
As midfielder Lukas Bergvall looked to push the ball past the Brazil international, the ball struck his hand before falling to Bruno Guimaraes, who passed to Anthony Gordon to equalize.
The goal was allowed to stand after a VAR review.
#New – 7'
The referee's call for a goal was confirmed by VAR, who checked for a possible handball by Joelinton in the build-up and deemed that his arm was at his side, in a normal position and that the contact was accidental.
— Premier League Match Center (@PLMatchCentre) January 4, 2025
The reason for this lies in the rules of handball in the English Premier League, which distinguish between accidental and intentional handball.
For a handball to prevent a goal during the build-up, a player must either score directly or create a goal immediately.
In this case, Joelinton's handball was deemed accidental and occurred earlier in the sequence of play, meaning it did not meet the criteria for a tackle.
Tottenham fans were frustrated, arguing that the incident violated the integrity of the match because had it not been for his hand that stopped the ball, they would have overcome Newcastle's pressure and attacked.
Why didn't Gordon get a penalty?
Later in the same match, Newcastle were denied a penalty when Anthony Gordon went down inside the box after a challenge from Dejan Kulusevski.
Replays showed Kulusevski leaning into Gordon with his shoulder, resulting in contact with the winger's face, leaving him a bloody mess.
Referee Andy Madley waved play on and the VAR did not intervene, angering Newcastle fans. #
Officials felt that Kulusevski's contact was accidental and not reckless or excessive, which is required for a foul in such situations.
The decision highlighted the subjective nature of such calls, with many claiming that Gordon's momentum had clearly been stalled by the challenge.
Why did Liverpool get a penalty kick against Manchester United?
#leafmon – 67' was overturned
The Video Assistant Referee recommended that a review be conducted on the field for the possibility of a handball by De Ligt, considering that his arm was raised in an unnatural position. After review, the referee overturned his original call for no penalty.
— Premier League Match Center (@PLMatchCentre) January 5, 2025
Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Manchester United included a controversial penalty awarded for handball by Matthijs de Ligt.
When Mohamed Salah attempted a cross, the ball struck De Ligt's outstretched arm, and referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot after a quick VAR check.
The decision was based on updated handball laws, which include provisions for abnormal arm positions.
De Ligt's arm was deemed to be in an unnatural position, making his body unnaturally larger and blocking the path of the ball.
Critics argued that De Ligt did not have enough time to react, but under the Laws of the Game, intent is no longer a necessary factor in handball decisions.
Salah scored the penalty kick, which increased the frustration of United fans, especially since they played well.
Why did Brighton get a penalty kick against Arsenal?
#Condiments – 58'
The referee's call for a penalty kick for a foul by Saliba on Joao Pedro was verified and confirmed by VAR, who deemed there to be enough contact to award a penalty kick.
— Premier League Match Center (@PLMatchCentre) January 4, 2025
Brighton's clash with Arsenal saw another controversial penalty kick when William Saliba was adjudged to have headed Joao Pedro inside the box.
The incident occurred during a struggle over a loose ball, with Saliba's forehead colliding with Pedro's head.
Referee Anthony Taylor awarded the penalty kick and after reviewing the incident it was confirmed by VAR.
The key factor was Saliba's movement towards Pedro, which was interpreted as dangerous and reckless, although the contact appeared minimal.
Critics of the decision argued that Pedro's reaction exaggerated the impact, but under the current rules, it is considered a mistake, especially since Saliba did not win the ball.
