STUNNED viewers claim Blackburn were robbed in Newcastle’s FA Cup shootout triumph – after spotting a major controversy.
Keen-eyed fans are convinced Toon’s hero keeper Martin Dubravka was off his line before foiling Dom Hyam from the very last penalty.
Martin Dúbravka is the shootout hero
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 27, 2024
A big save to send @NUFC through!#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/iwuBChfxXP
The moment Martin Dubravka made himself a hero. #NUFC
— Lee at NFTV (@LeeAtNFTV) February 27, 2024pic.twitter.com/92Zs3kxbFs
Supporters were especially frustrated because the FA Cup does NOT have VAR for ties played in non-Premier League stadiums – meaning no video replays could settle the issue.
The mediocre Magpies scraped into the quarter-finals 4-3 on spot-kicks after Championship side Rovers deservedly held them 1-1 after extra time.
But fans rushed to point out what they believe was a lucky let-off for Dubravka – worsened by the “unfairness” of having no VAR.
The Slovak, who earlier saved Sammie Szmodics’ shootout penalty, dived low to repeat the feat from Hyam’s low effort.
But fans posted clips of the stopper with both his feet appearing to be in front of the line before Rovers’ Scottish defender took his kick.
If true, that means the penalty should have been retaken – giving Blackburn another chance to take the spot-kicks to sudden death.
One wrote: “Dubravka was off his line when Hyam’s penalty was being taken. If it had VAR involved it would’ve been retaken.”
Another said: “Would have been quite funny if Newcastle had been denied victory by Dubravka coming off his line for the first time all season.”
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And a third commented: “Dubravka was off his line oops.”
A fourth could not have been more wrong when he stated: “Nobody going to mention Dubravka off his line, thought not.”
That’s because loads of fans swarmed onto social media to note the keeper’s contentious positioning.
However, viewers were divided on whether the absence of VAR was a positive thing overall for an epic tie.
One argued: “No VAR and a brilliant game of non stop action. Loads loads of chances by both teams!! Even at the end there VAR would have disallowed the last pen as Dubravka was off his line.”
Anthony Gordon‘s 71st-minute opener for the Toon had earlier been cancelled out by Szmodics ahead of extra time and the shootout saga.
Although fans reckoned Szmodics’ strike should have been disallowed – due to a foul throw.
