🤯🔥 Newcastle Furious After Controversial Digne Handball Call — Free‑Kick Instead of Penalty Rocks FA Cup Debate — 닌자티비 News
Referee Chris Kavanagh caused a huge commotion in the 2026 FA Cup Fourth Round match between Newcastle United and Aston Villa at Villa Park when he gave Newcastle a free kick rather than a penalty when replays revealed that Lucas Digne had clearly fouled within the penalty area. After fans and commentators criticised the decision on social media and 👉닌자티비 highlight clips, the match—which Newcastle won 3-1—was disrupted by technical mistakes and increased debates regarding the lack of video analysis in this round of the league.
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⚖️ Was It Inside the Box?
The controversial moment came just after the break when Kieran Trippier whipped in a dangerous cross and Digne’s arm made contact several yards inside the penalty area. However, Kavanagh and his assistant judged the offence to have occurred outside the box — awarding a free‑kick instead. Replays clearly showed the handball spot was misjudged, leaving players and supporters incredulous.
🗣️ Pundits and Fans Rage
Former England captain Wayne Rooney described the call as “one of the worst decisions I have ever seen,” while others pointed to the lack of VAR as a key reason the decision stood despite obvious evidence to the contrary. Critics argued that without VAR to intervene, officials are left vulnerable to human error — and tonight it cost Newcastle a clear penalty opportunity.
📊 Larger Pattern of Questionable Calls
The Digne handball wasn’t the only contentious decision in the match — Villa’s opener stood despite an offside, and Digne avoided a red card for a reckless challenge earlier in the game. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe also weighed in, suggesting modern officials may be overly dependent on VAR and struggle when it’s removed from the game.
🏟️ What It Means for the Cup
While Newcastle progressed to the fifth round thanks to goals from Sandro Tonali and Nick Woltemade, the match’s narrative will be remembered more for the fierce debate over officiating than for the scoreline — and with fans continuing to share reactions and scenes online, the Digne handball moment will be talked about for weeks to come.
