AFC Bournemouth returned to Dean Court for the opening home game of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, Newcastle United and former manager Eddie Howe were the visitors on an occasion that the Cherries were celebrating their 125th anniversary.
The game itself ebbed and flowed with Newcastle United dominating the early stages of the first half before AFC Bournemouth got back into the game and dominated the visitors. The home sides opener came as no surprise with Antoine Semenyo setting up Marcus Tavernier.
The second half continued in the same manner until some tactical changes from both sides, Eddie Howe made a double substitution and AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola responded in kind, firstly to take off Ryan Christie, Howe responded with another double change with Iraola then removing Kluivert and Evanilson. This period of play saw the pendulum shift Newcastle’s way with the visitors dominating possession and the home side dropping deeper and deeper into their own half and on to their own 18-year box. When the equaliser came it was no surprise.
AFC Bournemouth however responded well and another change from the Cherries gave the home side some fresh impetus to chase the game, the winner came in stoppage time, O. Dango heading home from a corner.
Dean Court erupted into celebration, not a single Newcastle United fan contested the goal and then VAR check.
The ball brushed an area of Dango’s shoulder, which had been pushed upwards by the Newcastle defender. The ball then seems to hit the Newcastle defender’s arm and goes in.
Before the season kicked off the Premier League publicly announced the phrase “referee’s call” would be heard more often, but on this occasion that was ignored, the referee wasn’t even sent to the monitor. VAR decided that a “factual handball” had been committed, despite it hitting an area of the shoulder that saw Lewis Cook given offside for in the build-up to a goal against Nottingham Forest last week.
Last week that goal was disallowed because he could hypothetically have scored with that part of his shoulder, this week the goal has been disallowed because a player was perceived to have brushed that same part of the anatomy. It just seems ridiculous when you compare the two.
“It’s not football anymore” chanted the crowd. Hard to argue against.
After the game Andoni Iraola told Sky Sports…
“We should have won the game. We have lost two points and I will complain, but nothing will happen.
“I’m not against the referee because he gave the goal and didn’t even have the chance to go to the monitor and watch it. If he had the chance, I’m sure he would give the goal.
“I’m completely sure. But he doesn’t have the chance.
“They always say it’s a factual decision – it’s not a factual decision. We watched the video; the ball goes very strong after touching the shoulder.
“We have very short sleeves and the ball never touches the skin of Dango. They send us the diagram (to show what constitutes handball) and now they take this decision. Considering the minute it was, it’s obviously three points for us.
“I’m very frustrated because my players deserved much more.”
Man of the match against NewcastleTavernier
Semenyo
Neto
Cook
Senesi
Evanilson
Zabarnyi
Christie
Kluivert
Someone else
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AFCBmattjamr
Some of the best football I’ve ever seen us play for 60 mins.Fell apart as soon as we took Christie off. Alarming that we are so reliant on him and Adam Scott looks miles off a premier league player.
Absolutely robbed by VAR. Surely if it’s not clear and obvious then on-field decision stands. There is no way you can be certain the ball hit the handball portion of Djangos arm from the angles they had.
The gaffer's post-match reaction 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/HUStXFsUKp
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) August 25, 2024
Bournemouth's hearts have been broken by VAR ❌ pic.twitter.com/BcI2RuXMeG
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 25, 2024
northstandmark
Seems to me it’s Dan Burn who lifts Dangos arm towards the ball in a desperate attempt to get VAR to do what it did?
He was fouling someone at every corner throughout the game, Coote repeatedly warning him for this but ultimately doing nothing.
Newcastle will call it clever I am sure.
At some point they’ll get robbed when the pecking order turns around on them. You’re not allowed to get out your lane in this league and we threatened to do just that today.
So a handball is now when it touches your shoulder.
And you’re allowed to choke slam a player and only get a yellow card.
Glad that’s cleared up.
— Mark McAdam (@markmcadamtv) August 25, 2024
🍒 The more I watch this, the more I’m convinced there’s more of Dan Burn’s shoulder on that ball than anything else.
As Iraola said, would explain the force with which the ball went into the net. #afcb #nufc #BOUNEW pic.twitter.com/YlMUTjQybj
— Kris Temple (@kristemple) August 25, 2024
🗣️ "This was obviously three points for us."
Andoni Iraola shares his frustrations at the disallowed Bournemouth goal against Newcastle ☹️ pic.twitter.com/tW8JnrWtcu
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 25, 2024
Tough one to take today 🍒
We keep on going 🔥💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/3kLwAdrczD— Marcos Senesi (@senesimarcos) August 25, 2024
fritter
Newcastle were overwhelmed until Christie went off. Scott conceded possession twice in quick succession, led to a corner. Game changed. Jolinton suddenly was able to have space in the middle.
Seemed to us an equalizer was inevitable then. As for the handball goal, they’ve messed around with what is/ isn’t handball so much that it’s a mess.
If Christie was fit then the game was lost due to AI. If he had to go off then fair enough.
Thoroughly entertaining game. – To join the conversation, click here.
VAR 1: “My word, Joelinton appears to rugby take the keeper!”
VAR 2: ‘Crazy!’
VAR 1: “What should we do?”
VAR 2: ‘Send off a Bournemouth staff member I reckon!’ pic.twitter.com/oZ0FTE0ydl
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) August 25, 2024
