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.
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