Clattenburg’s Critique: Ref’s Refusal of ‘Jota Penalty’ Draws Controversy
In a recent match between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, referee Anthony Taylor has come under fire for his failure to award a penalty to Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi. The incident occurred when Awoniyi was brought down by Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, while also being pressured by Sven Botman. Despite calls for a penalty, Taylor waved it away and VAR Tony Harrington did not intervene.
The controversial non-penalty decision had a significant impact on the game, as Newcastle went on to secure a 3-2 victory with Bruno Guimaraes scoring just four minutes after the incident. Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo expressed his frustration, stating that it was “really clear” that it should have been a penalty. He placed the blame on Harrington for not stepping in as the VAR official.
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg echoed these sentiments in his column for the Mail. He compared Awoniyi’s non-penalty with the penalty awarded to Diogo Jota in Liverpool’s match against Newcastle on New Year’s Day. Clattenburg highlighted the inconsistency in Taylor’s decisions, as he awarded a penalty to Jota but not to Awoniyi, despite both incidents involving the same goalkeeper.
Clattenburg argued that Awoniyi had a stronger case for a penalty than Jota, as Dubravka’s raised arm made it impossible for Awoniyi to stay on his feet. He criticized Taylor for not awarding Forest a penalty and Harrington for not correcting the error through VAR. Clattenburg also acknowledged the frustration among Forest fans, who question whether there is a bias towards bigger clubs in the Premier League.
While it should be noted that Dubravka himself admitted to fouling Jota for Liverpool’s penalty, this situation highlights the challenges faced by referees since the introduction of VAR. It also emphasizes the inconsistency in officiating decisions. The blame for this particular incident may lie with VAR, especially considering Nuno’s suggestion that Taylor’s view was obstructed.
However, this offers little solace to Nuno, Awoniyi, and Forest, as it is yet another example of the subpar refereeing standards in the Premier League. The skepticism regarding ‘big club’ bias will undoubtedly persist at Forest, but it is essential to recognize the difficulties faced by referees and the need for consistent officiating across all matches.