UEFA has made a controversial decision by appointing Polish referee Szymon Marciniak and VAR official Tomasz Kwiatkowski for Newcastle United’s Champions League clash against Benfica at St James’ Park on Tuesday.
Both officials were key figures in the contentious 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain in November 2023, where a stoppage-time VAR review led to a penalty decision against Tino Livramento for handball.
That decision, later deemed incorrect by UEFA, resulted in a draw that arguably cost Newcastle a place in the European knockout stages.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe reacted to the original incident by stating: “What you don’t take into account with those replays is how quick the ball goes… It’s not a penalty when it hits his chest first and then hits his hand which is low. I’m not allowed to sum it up. I can’t say my inner thoughts obviously [I’d get in trouble].”
Kwiatkowski, the VAR who initiated the review in Paris, will serve the same role against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica, a move likely to anger Magpies supporters.