Ex-referee Dermot Gallagher explains huge decision to allow Newcastle winner

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has explained that Newcastle's winner against Arsenal was allowed to stand because it wasn't conclusive that the whole of the ball was over the whole of the line in the build-up to the goal.

Newcastle won 1-0 courtesy of Anthony Gordon's 64th minute goal but Arsenal were adamant that the ball had gone out of play before Joe Willock delivered a cross in the build-up to the strike.

Gallagher stressed that the officials couldn't be certain that the ball wasn't overhanging the line despite a VAR check.

Gallagher told the Premier League's official website: 'The whole of the ball has to be over the whole of the line. You can look at it from that angle and it is impossible to tell.

'We see it with corners where it looks over the circumference but the ball overhangs so they are allowed to play. I think that might be the problem with this, that they can't be sure that some of that ball isn't overhanging the line. There is no evidence to say the ball is out of play.

'It isn't whether the ball is in play but whether the ball is out of play.'

The incident was also discussed by Richard Keys and Andy Gray on beIN SPORTS.

The channel showed a graphic that appeared to demonstrate that the ball remained in play in the build up to the goal, although Keys admitted that it wasn't completely conclusive.

Speaking on beIN SPORTS, Gray said that the ball was: 'A slither in.'

Keys ten said: 'They would be right to argue we didn't have a definitive angle which would conclusively prove whether the ball was in or whether the ball was out.'

Aside from that aspect, Keys stated that there were two other reasons why the goal should have been disallowed - for a foul on Arsenal defender Gabriel and a possible