Newcastle fans swarm social media to blast 'embarrassing' VAR decision against Bournemouth
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(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)
Ciaran Morrison
Sun 21 September 2025 15:58, UK
Newcastle fans were left unimpressed at a major refereeing decision during the Toon’s draw at Bournemouth.
Bruno Guimaraes was left on the bench as Eddie Howe made seven changes from the Newcastle side that lost 2-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League.
Nick Woltemade’s header defeated Wolves 1-0 last time in the Premier League, securing Newcastle‘s first win of the season.
Woltemade returned to the starting XI at Bournemouth, after being left on the bench against Barcelona, and was the centre of a huge decision during the game.
Credit: Imago
During the second half at the Vitality Stadium, with the score still 0-0, Bafode Diakite looked to have brought down Woltemade in the penalty area with a sustained pulling action on his shirt.
Woltemade went down looking for the penalty, but following a VAR check, the referee did not award a spot kick.
The decision has left Newcastle fans furious on social media, with one posting: “Thats as clear a foul as you will seen on Woltemade.
Incompetence yet again from PGMOL,” someone else said.
Another wrote: “I know Woltemade goes down easy but you can’t keep a full hold of his sleeve.
Woltemade literally being tugged back,” a Newcastle supporter wrote on X.
On BBC Sport, [21 September], former Premier League defender Francis Benali was torn whether the penalty should have been awarded.
“My initial feeling was that Woltemade was looking for it a little bit, but there is contact,” Benali said.
“Maybe if he wasn’t as theatrical with it, he could have had a case.“
Newcastle had to settle for a point, but if the penalty was awarded the Toon could have made it back-to-back Premier League wins.