Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United, with the score poised at 1-1, can count themselves lucky that referee Stuart Attwell overturned his decision to award Brentford a penalty in the 62nd minute of the Premier League encounter at the Gtech Community Stadium. The Premier League Match Centre have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to post the reasoning behind the official’s decision-making and Brentford fans are not best pleased.
Just minutes after the Bees got themselves back into the affair through Kevin Schade scoring his third goal of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, Dango Ouattara fell to the box after contact from Newcastle fan favourite Dan Burn. As you can see below, Ouattara produced a brilliant step-over to confuse the English defender – and the latter had no chance but to stick his leg out.
Premier League Explain ‘Shocking’ Penalty Decision in Newcastle v Brentford
Initially, Attwell did not call for a penalty and allowed play to resume, but he then relied on VAR to look at the decision and replays of the incident showed Burn getting a touch on Ouattara. The original decision was upheld and the Premier League Match Centre insisted there was minimal contact made by Burn on the ex-Bournemouth star.
“The referee’s call of no penalty and yellow card to Ouattara for simulation was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the challenge from Burn on Ouattara deemed to be minimal contact.”
Incredibly, Burn managed to walk away unscathed (on this occasion, at least) and Ouattara – who became Brentford’s marquee signing of the summer after moving from Bournemouth – was instead given a yellow card for simulation. Keith Andrew’s side, perplexed at the decision, took to social media to vent their frustration. The club wrote:
“There’s clear contact between Burn and Ouattara in the box but the penalty isn’t given. Ouatarra booked for diving as well…”
Not only the club but a fan was outraged that Attwell had overturned his decision. “That should have been a penalty awarded to Brentford not a yellow for Bees No19 Dango Ouattara by referee Stuart Attwell,” they wrote before adding, “Surely VAR should have worked that one out…look at Dan Burn’s face after he made contact – he just knew it should have been a spot-kick. A shocking decision.” Another said:
“That’s an absolute appalling decision in the Brentford/Newcastle game. Ouattara booked for a dive when he’s been kicked by Burn. No penalty given and Burn avoids a second yellow. English officials are a waste of oxygen,” another wrote.
Not long later, Brentford received some luck of their own. Burn, who had struggled with the pace and power of Brentford’s play after he picked up his first yellow of the encounter in the 49th minute when he pulled back Ouattara in the Newcastle half, received his second yellow of the game for a reckless lift of the leg, which brought Ouattara to the floor.
The Burinkabe forward raced towards Aaron Ramsdale’s goal in the 73rd minute and Attwell had no choice but to point to the spot after Burn – who scored a sumptuous header in the Champions League mid-week – failed to learn his lesson.
