Nottingham Forest and Newcastle faced off in a thrilling Premier League showdown at the City Ground on Sunday. Murillo’s 21st minute header initially put the Reds in the lead, but goals from Alexander Isak, Joelinton, and Harvey Barnes turned the tide in favor of Newcastle.
This victory propelled Newcastle to eighth place in the Premier League just before the international break. However, the comeback could have been smoother for Eddie Howe if VAR had intervened in the 43rd minute incident involving Ryan Yates and Sean Longstaff.
Yates’ reckless challenge on Longstaff went unnoticed by VAR, despite the clear foul that could have warranted a red card. Longstaff’s decision to play on instead of milking the situation for sympathy is commendable in a sport where diving is a common tactic.
Jamie Carragher, on commentary duty for Sky Sports, also highlighted the incident, stating that Longstaff did Yates a favor by not exaggerating the impact of the challenge. In comparison to a similar incident in another match resulting in a red card, the lack of VAR intervention in this case raised eyebrows.
Longstaff’s integrity and professionalism in staying on his feet and continuing to play despite the foul is commendable. His sportsmanship in not exploiting the situation for personal gain is a refreshing sight in modern football. Despite the missed opportunity for justice, Longstaff’s fair play should be recognized and appreciated.
