Jermaine Jenas Furious Over ‘Shocking Decision’ Denying Newcastle United’s Champions League Triumph

During the intense UEFA Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United FC at Parc des Princes on November 28, 2023, in the magnificent city of Paris, France, Tino Livramento’s unfortunate ball handling resulted in a penalty. This controversial penalty, awarded to PSG in the 98th minute, allowed them to salvage a 1-1 draw against Newcastle. The decision faced strong criticism from former Magpies player Jermaine Jenas. Despite their previous impressive 4-1 victory over PSG at St James’ Park, Newcastle seemed poised to secure another win as they held a lead thanks to Alexander Isak’s goal in the 24th minute. Nevertheless, VAR’s delayed involvement ultimately resulted in a disputed handball ruling against Tino Lavramento, consequently awarding PSG a penalty and depriving Newcastle of a thoroughly earned triumph. Jenas, expressing his thoughts on TNT Sports, did not hesitate to criticize referee Szymon Marciniak, alleging that he succumbed to the influence exerted by PSG players and supporters.

Jenas strongly contested the penalty verdict, asserting, “In no circumstance can that be considered a penalty, as it was a deflection from his body onto his arm. It simply does not meet any criteria for a penalty.” He emphasized again that Livramento’s arm was positioned naturally and wondered if there was any other action the player could have taken to prevent the contact.

Expressing his disappointment, the ex-Newcastle player felt that his former team had been unfairly deprived of a significant triumph. He commended the team’s defensive performance in the latter half, particularly highlighting the outstanding saves made by goalkeeper Nick Pope. Jenas believed that this outcome should have been a remarkable victory for Newcastle, propelling them to the final match against AC Milan.

Nevertheless, due to the contentious penalty verdict, Newcastle’s destiny is no longer under their control. At present, they occupy the third position in Group E and need to win against AC Milan in their final match while also depending on Borussia Dortmund to defeat PSG. Only then can they guarantee their spot in the knockout stages.

To sum up, the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League was overshadowed by a controversial penalty call that resulted in PSG securing a draw. Jermaine Jenas, a former Newcastle player, heavily condemned the referee for succumbing to external influence and granting the penalty. Newcastle now face a challenging task to ensure their qualification for the knockout stages.