Saturday’s game against Chelsea was another in a long line of inadequate officiating that has seen VAR and the PGMOL plunging Premier League football into paralysis.

Andy Madley was the latest of Howard Webb’s whistlers seemingly incapable of making onfield decisions, unsupported by VAR officials unable to contradict their partners in crime’s uncertainty.

Madley appeared to be the only person in St. James' Park who couldn’t see that Trevor Chalobah’s challenge on Anthony Gordon was a penalty, until his colleague in Stockley Park, Peter Bankes backed up his indecisiveness. The laughable phrase “side-to-side shielding” being an apt description of one ref looking after another.

How Bankes was allowed to be the VAR official for Newcastle in the game following his derby blunders is another mystery that only Webb can answer.

But whether it was Andy Madley, Bankes, Sam Barrott or Craig Pawson, it matters not; they have all become rendered completely useless by a system that encourages vacillation.

Madley bottled every decision on Saturday, whether it be tackles or handballs in or out of the box, persistent fouling, disgraceful dissent or the pathetic injury feigning of Cole Palmer. All he did was fail to blow his whistle and point to his ear.

That wouldn’t be so bad if the VAR official was capable of pointing out the blindingly obvious but they have now been directed not to make a decision that may undermine their pals.

So we have referees that defer to VAR rather than make onfield judgements and those in a TV studio hundreds of miles away also left ineffectual by a “clear and obvious" bar made so high that they are frightened to ask the match referee to review their own incompetence.

And it’s not just those with the whistle or VAR that can’t make decisions, linos are also now unable to flag for offside just in case a goal may follow a passage of play, even when they are 99% certain a player is offside.

That 1% is enough because VAR may determine that a single frame of footage could show that body parts may freakishly align to show players are actually onside. The phrase “matters of fact” is wrongly used about offsides.

For example, to all eyes in the stadium, Harry Kane was “a mile off” when he scored at SJP in Steve Bruce’s final game in charge but a random frame was found to show he wasn’t. Alexander Isak was clearly onside in his Newcastle debut at Anfield but a terrible camera angle and a thick Red line arbitrarily drawn wrongly showed he was offside.

Well done to the FA and Howard Webb for totally destroying our game. Your ineptitude knows no bounds....

(thanks to Barry Kelley for the headline suggestion)

Newcastle  2  Chelsea  2

A mixture of poor finishing and inept officiating meant that Newcastle had to settle for a point on Saturday lunchtime, despite holding a 2-0 interval lead over the Blues.

Nick Woltemade took less than four minutes to banish memories of last weekend's mackem misfortune, burying a loose ball from close range after an acrobatic effort from Anthony Gordon was blocked by Robert Sanchez.

And when the same player met Gordon's centre from the left with a first-time shot that survived elongated VAR checks for offside, a fifth successive home victory over Chelsea in league and cup games look to move a stage nearer.

Another two chances to claim his maiden senior club treble got away from Big Saint Nick before half time - putting an identical chance to his second from another Gordon cross wide and then looking set to connect with Bruno's cross, only for Lewis Miley to rise ahead of him and head over.

As well as the Magpies had performed in the opening half though - Lewis Hall outstanding at left back and the whole side enthusiastically pressing to good effect - their cause was helped by a cumbersome display from the visitors.

Almost inevitably that changed after the break and after Cole Palmer won a free kick on the edge of the United area, Reece James found the bottom corner of Aaron Ramsdale's goal to halve the arrears within five minutes of the restart.

What looked like a clear 53rd minute penalty when Gordon was barged off the field by Trevor Chalobah with no attempt to play the ball was ignored by bungling whistler Andy Madley and quickly rubber-stamped by VAR to the derision of home fans and outrage of the United bench.

The only rational explanation is that Madley suspected Gordon to be diving home for Christmas, but VAR grinch Peter Bankes had ample opportunity to review the incident and see it for what it was - a clear foul.

A lightning Chelsea break that began with Sanchez taking possession after a Newcastle attack petered out then saw Joao Pedro overpower Malick Thiaw inside his own half, advancing to sweep the ball home for 2-2.

Revitalised by the introduction of front trio Harvey Barnes, Yoane Wissa and Anthony Elanga, United then made and missed several glaring opportunities to retake the lead - along with a pair of more debatable spot kick shouts.

Barnes volleyed Bruno's cross wide on 85 minutes before Elanga took the ball from Ramsdale following a corner and sprinted the length of the field. Needlessly checking back, he then ignored the unmarked Wissa and Barnes to his right and elected to try and low shot that went past the post.

Added time brought further controversy; Barnes restrained by James as he reached the edge of the Chelsea box - but VAR decreeing there was no denial of a scoring opportunity.

The final whistle sounded soon after, pantomime villain Madley leaving the field to a chorus of boos and Magpies reserve goalkeeper John Ruddy leading protests. Eddie Howe then served up his own mulled whines to the press.

For all the moans about officialdom though, plus some satisfaction at how they played for most of the game, United were once again unable to retain a lead - a costly habit that's proving difficult to shake off.

More to follow....

Team: Ramsdale, L.Miley, Hall, Thiaw, Schar, Guimaraes, Ramsey (Willock 89), Tonali, J.Murphy (Elanga 73), Gordon (Barnes 72), Woltemade (Wissa 73).
Subs n/u: Joelinton, A.Murphy, Neave, Ruddy, Shahar.

Goals: Woltemade 4, 20.

Booked: Schar, Hall, Wissa.

CFC: Sanchez, Gusto (Fernandez 54), Cucurella, Fofana, Chalobah, James, Caicedo, Pedro Neto, Palmer (Santos 79), Garnacho, Jaoa Pedro.
Subs n/u: Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Buonanotte, Guiu, Hato, Jorgensen, Badiashile.

Goals: James 49, Pedro 66.

Booked: Sanchez, Garnacho, Gusto, Caicedo, Santos, Pedro (Maresca).

Crowd: 52,226 including an away allocation of 3,214

Eddie Howe said:

"(It's) difficult because we played so well today. An outstanding performance, especially in the first half. Devastated for the lads that we didn't get the win.

"(The first half) was a reminder of how good we can be.

"Athletically so good, and the press was excellent for us too, and we were a real threat. It's further evidence that we are improving. We need more of that."

On the Gordon penalty claim:

"In my opinion it’s a clear penalty. I think anywhere else on the pitch it’s a free-kick. The player has gone into Anthony (Gordon) too aggressively so I think it’s stonewall.

“It’s not (side-to-side shielding, as the VAR justification claimed). The defender only looks at Anthony and not the ball and is too aggressive.”

On Nick Woltemade:

"Nick played really well today, had his best game for us. He set the tone as the focal point of the attack. He ran tirelessly and took his chances brilliantly."

Blues @ SJP - Premier League era:

"The disappointing thing was that it’s the more senior players in the team and the backbone of the team.

"The goalkeeper and the two centre-halves, yes it’s a team game and there are other things happening, they’ve played a big part in conceding those goals. It’s a funny one where it’s senior players but we have to learn, there’s no other way to put it."

Latest:
Semi-final dates set

Newcastle's reward for reaching the Carabao Cup semi-finals again is a two-legged meeting with Manchester City.

United will be at home first on Tuesday 13.01.2026 (8pm), with the second leg at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday 04.02.2026 (8pm if Arsenal are in the other semi-final or 8.15pm if it's Palace).

That second leg comes less than three weeks before the sides meet in the Premier League at the Etihad, United having beaten City 2-1 at Gallowgate in November.

This is the sixth time that City and United have been paired in the League Cup and the first occasion since September 2023, when the Magpies won 1-0 on Tyneside.

Newcastle's 2-0 away success in October 2014 meanwhile remains our only league or cup victory at that venue:

NUFC v MCFC in the League Cup - all-time:

1975/76 F lost 1-2 (Wembley) Gowling
1994/95 R4 drew 1-1 (Maine Road) Jeffrey
1994/95 R4 replay lost 0-2 (SJP)
2013/14 R4 lost 0-2 (SJP)
2014/15 R4 won 2-0 (Etihad) Aarons, Sissoko
2023/24 R3 won 1-0 (SJP) Isak
2025/26 SF (SJP then Etihad)

The black and whites have won all three of the previous semi-finals they have contested, but this will be the first when they've not enjoyed second leg home advantage:

1975/76 Spurs: lost 0-1 (a), won 3-1 (h)
2022/23 Southampton: won 1-0 (a), won 2-1 (h)
2024/25 Arsenal: won 2-0 (a), won 2-0 (h)
2025/26 Manchester City: (h) then (a)

Semi-final draw:

Chelsea v Arsenal or Crystal Palace
Newcastle v Manchester City
 
Quarter-final results/fixture:

Tue 16.12.2025 Cardiff City 1-3 Chelsea
Wed 17.12.2025 Manchester City 2-0 Brentford
Wed 17.12.2025 Newcastle 2-1 Fulham
Tue 23.12.2025 Arsenal v Crystal Palace (8pm)

Newcastle's hectic January/February now looks like this:

Sun 04.01.2026 Crystal Palace (h) (PL)
Wed 07.01.2026 Leeds United (h) (PL)
Sat 10.01.2026 Bournemouth (h) (FAC)
Tue 13.01.2026 Manchester City (h) (CC)
Sun 18.01.2026 Wolves (a) (PL)
Wed 21.01.2026 PSV Eindhoven (h) (CL)
Sun 25.01.2026 Aston Villa (h) (PL)
Wed 28.01.2026 Paris SG (a) (CL)
Sat 31.01.2026 Liverpool (a) (PL)

Wed 04.02.2026 Manchester City (a) (CC)
Sat 07.02.2026 Brentford (h) (PL)
Tue 10.02.2026 Spurs (a) (PL)
??? ??.02.2026 Possible R4 (FA)
??? ??.02.2026 Possible playoff (CL)
Sat 21.02.2026 Manchester City (a) (PL)
??? ??.02.2026 Possible playoff (CL)  
Sat 28.02.2026 Everton (h) (PL)