'Absolute disgrace', Newcastle United have every right to feel cheated after VAR blunder

Lee Clark has branded the FA's handling of Newcastle United's VAR farce at Chelsea as an "absolute disgrace" with the only action so far seeing Isaac Hayden charged for making post-game comments on the performance of referee David Coote and VAR man John Brooks.

Hayden posted a tweet saying that Newcastle had been up against "12 men" at Stamford Bridge and in doing so reflected the views of thousands of paying fans. But the FA have so far refused to accept they made a mistake themselves.

In a season in which Newcastle have already suffered from a host of poor and more importantly decisive errors in games from Premier League officials, the anger is still in the air on Tyneside. At Chelsea, Kai Havertz stayed on the field despite leaving Dan Burn bloodied and bruised before Jacob Murphy failed to win a spot-kick after being hauled down in the box at the second attempt and even slow motion replays of the clear fouls unable to sway the mind of Melton Mowbray whistler Brooks.

Clark told Chronicle Live: "The two big decisions cost Newcastle their unbeaten run really, Kai Havertz staying on the pitch after the challenge on Dan Burn. I'm sure if that was the other way around Dan would have got a red card no danger.

"Havertz would have made much more of it had the situation been the other way around. The fact he's got a big lump and blood pouring out his head is surely enough to tell the referee or VAR guy it's a red card.

"The stupid thing is Havertz got a yellow card so if it's an offence then it's surely a red card! Then to twist the knife he goes and gets the winner."

And then came the decision that left viewers shocked when Murphy was hauled down in the penalty area.

Clark reflected: "It's the most obvious penalty you will