Former top referee rules on these controversial Brentford v Newcastle incidents | OneFootball

Dermot Gallagher reviews controversial decisions in the Premier League after each round of games, on behalf of Sky Sports.

The former top referee has now given his call on these incidents in the Brentford v Newcastle match.

Dermot Gallagher looking at what happened during key moments in this match at the GTech Community Stadium.

Dermot Gallagher talking to Sky Sports about these Brentford v Newcastle controversial incidents:

‘Why was Doku pen given (for Man City v Liverpool) – but not Ouattara (for Brentford v Newcastle)?

‘During Newcastle’s trip to Brentford, Dan Burn fouled Dango Ouattara, but there was no penalty and Ouattara booked for simulation (But as we saw at the Etihad, there was contact. VAR Paul Tierney said “minimal contact” so are we seeing a lack of consistency?).’

DERMOT GALLAGHER:

“This is where a referee can’t win and there’s been contact [from Burn on Ouattara], there’s no doubt about that.

“I can’t defend that, there is contact there. I understand why the referee gives a yellow card and then it goes back to ‘does it meet the threshold for a penalty?’. VAR says no.

“There is contact and with the Doku one, there is contact. They are polar oppositions with a penalty at one end and a yellow at the other.

“That’s the life of a referee. It’s so difficult. He’s given a yellow card because he thinks Ouattara is deceiving him to win a penalty. VAR says it’s not enough to give a penalty.”

‘Dan Burn and Dango Outtara had another coming together later in the game. This time, Burn was sent off and Brentford were awarded a penalty.’

DERMOT GALLAGHER:

“It is [correct]. I thought it was a foul at the time and he was already on a yellow.

“When he gets a second yellow, he says to the referee ‘I accept it’ so he knew.”

My conclusions

I think Brentford deserved to win for sure.

However, I don’t believe either of these were penalties and therefore, Dan Burn shouldn’t have been sent off either.

The first one, Dan Burn barely touched him and the Brentford player threw himself to the ground. Just because there is minimal contact, that doesn’t mean you get a penalty, if you throw yourself theatrically to the turf. There is contact throughout a match all over the pitch but not a free-kick (or spot-kick) on many/most occasions.

As for the second one, I couldn’t see any contact whatsoever. Even if there was some kind of minimal touch, once again it wasn’t remotely enough for the player to hit the deck.

Brentford 3 Newcastle 1 – Sunday 9 November 2025 2pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Barnes 27, Burn red card 73

Brentford:

Possession was Newcastle 51% Brentford 49%

Total shots were Newcastle 5 Brentford 15

Shots on target were Newcastle 1 Brentford 7

Corners were Newcastle 2 Brentford 6

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 16 Brentford 35

Newcastle team v Brentford:

Pope (Ramsdale 77), Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Bruno (Miley 96), Joelinton (Ramsey 24), Tonali (Willock 77), Murphy (Elanga 77), Woltemade, Barnes (Hall 77)

Subs: