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Newcastle v Burton blunder referee relieved of duties this Saturday

7 years ago
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Keith Stroud has lost the match he was due to referee this weekend.

Sky Sports report that their information is that the Newcastle v Burton blunder referee will no longer be officiating when Gillingham host Millwall on Saturday.

The broadcaster reports that Keith Stroud is believed to be still ‘distraught’ after his amazing basic mistake.

Sky Sports saying a Referee Union’s (PGMOL) source told them:

“It’s not a case that he (Keith Stroud) doesn’t know the rules. Simply put, he had a lapse in concentration.”

The Newcastle v Burton match on Wednesday night ended in a 1-0 home win but only after one of the most embarrassing refereeing mistakes of modern times.

The 29th minute saw a penalty awarded for a foul on Dwight Gayle and then Matt Ritchie dispatched the penalty, only for the referee to decide not to give a goal.

After around four minutes of arguments on the touchlines the match eventually kicked off with a free-kick to Burton and no goal.

However, after the game, the referees union, PGMOL, released a statement (see below) confirming that the penalty was ruled out and no kick retaken BECAUSE none of the four officials knew the rules, despite the vast majority of the crowd and certainly the Newcastle players/management leaving them in no doubt as to the error.

Whilst not excusing Keith Stroud, the two linesmen and the fourth official have to take an equal share of the blame, as any one of them could surely have put it right on the night.

With referees being full-time now at the higher levels, it would be a massive punishment to end somebody’s career completely because of one incident.

However, the authorities have been put in a tricky position due to such a basic but potentially costly mistake having been made.

Interesting to see how Keith Stroud (and the other three officials) are punished longer-term

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) Statement after the final whistle:

“In this evening’s EFL Championship game between Newcastle United and Burton Albion, referee Keith Stroud awarded Newcastle a penalty in the 29th minute.

“As Matt Ritchie took the kick, Dwight Gayle encroached in the penalty area.

“An indirect free-kick was awarded to Burton but the laws of the game state that the penalty kick should have been taken.

“Unfortunately the referee has misapplied the law.

“Keith and his team are understandably upset at the lapse in concentration and apologise for the mistake.”

***A further Sky Sports update – They state that they understand all four officials from the Newcastle v Burton match have been relieved of duties this coming weekend.

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