Anthony Gordon's brutal VAR rant and injury update after 'hobbling' into Newcastle interview

Aaron Stokes

16 May 2024 at 2:37 am·3-min read

Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon pulled no punches over VAR after 'hobbling' into his post-match interview duties with Sky Sports on Wednesday evening.

The Magpies forward found the net during the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United and was at the centre of a major controversial moment late in the first-half. Gordon, racing through on goal, was caught on the ankle by Sofyan Amrabat but watched on in astonishment as referee Robert Jones waved play on and VAR fail to overturn the decision.

The timing of the incident could not be more apt as Premier League clubs prepare to vote on whether to scrap the technology from next season after frustrating errors on a regular basis. Gordon, who limped into his media duties according to Sky Sports' Patrick Davidson, excoriated the technology and the decision not to award Newcastle a penalty on the night.

"Really sore [ankle]. I am not too sure how good my ankle will be," Gordon said when asked about the Amrabat tackle. "I have watched the incident back, it's a clear penalty. I don't mind the referee getting it wrong on the pitch because it is a difficult decision, things happen really quickly.

"But I don't understand what the point of VAR is then. It's here to correct mistakes. He goes down my Achilles, and pushes me in the back. Casemiro comes and get the ball but there's two fouls before that.

"I honestly don't see the point in it [VAR]. I knew straight away [it was a foul], that's why I didn't appeal. Because I thought 'I don't mind the referee not giving it'.

"It's fast. But I will wait for the VAR to check. You can see me telling my teammates 'don't worry, it's a clear penalty'. Then we carry on. I have got no sock left so how is it possible? I don't understand the point of it. I really don't."

Premier League sides are expected to vote next month on whether VAR should be removed from the top flight, with 14 of the 20 teams needing to be in agreement for the vote to pass. Gordon was pressed on whether he would be in favour of the monumental change and suggested he would actually be OK saying goodbye to VAR.

"It's a big decision, I am actually quite fond of it. I am fond of the idea," he added. "It should be a thing that works in the league but it's not. There are constantly too many mistakes.

"Like I have said, we missed too many chances there to blame anyone else. But we could go 1-0 up and then the game changes. It's a clear and obvious mistake. I don't know how you can get it wrong. So either get rid of it or get better."

Newcastle's season now hangs in the balance ahead of Sunday's finale at Brentford. A win and they will finish at least seventh in the league, which will likely be enough for Europe; some achievement after a torrid season of injuries.

Gordon may well have to miss out of the west London showdown due to his ankle issue but insists he will do everything he can to make sure he is available for the final clash of the campaign.

"Listen, no matter how that ankle is my aim will be to be there and I won't let a sore ankle get in the way of that, don't worry," he concluded.