Mark Clattenburg Claims Referee Made ‘Wrong Decision’ During Newcastle 2-3 Liverpool

Mark Clattenburg in action

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has accused Simon Hooper of making a major error during Newcastle United’s 3-2 defeat to Liverpool on Monday night. The game – already being hailed as an early contender for match of the season – was ultimately decided by 16-year-old Rio Ngumhoa’s 100th-minute debut strike.

The build-up was charged even before kick-off, with Alexander Isak’s transfer saga dominating headlines. On the pitch, Newcastle enjoyed long spells of control against the champions, only for the balance to shift after Anthony Gordon was dismissed shortly after Ryan Gravenberch’s opener.

Hugo Ekitike doubled the lead soon after half-time, but Liverpool once again had to dig themselves out of a hole, surrendering a two-goal cushion for the second time this season before finding yet another dramatic late winner. Watch the highlights below:

In a game of so much drama and flashpoints, it could be quite easy to miss some of the action. However, Clattenburg, who has since had some time to reflect on a match that Hooper – who clearly struggled to keep up with as he let some fouls go and punished others unfairly – has now had his say on an incident which, in his eyes, should have seen Liverpool reduced to 10 men too.

Clattenburg Claims Ibrahima Konate Should Have Been Dismissed

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As 10-man Newcastle pushed to claw their way back into the contest, Harvey Barnes was sent through on goal by Bruno Guimaraes. Before he could reach the ball, however, he was bundled to the ground by Ibrahima Konate. The Liverpool defender had already been booked in the first half, yet escaped further punishment for the challenge.

In an exclusive interview with Geordie Boot Boys, Clattenburg argued that referee Simon Hooper had erred in letting the incident slide as the Reds were yet again capable of finding a winner later in proceedings. He said (watch the incident below):

“Ibrahima Konate was very lucky to get away with a clear push in the back on Harvey Barnes. The referee, Simon Hooper, who was well-placed, decided not to award a foul, which was the wrong decision.

“To compound the wrong decision, this would have resulted in a second yellow card for stopping a promising attack as Barnes is breaking away towards the penalty area with a good potential to get to the ball before Konate.”

“The VAR cannot interfere with a second yellow card, so Newcastle needed the infield decision which did not come,” he added. Instead, it was Guimaraes who went into the book after furiously protesting Hooper’s call – or lack of one – leaving him to navigate the rest of the long, gruelling contest on a disciplinary tightrope.

While no official explanation has been given as to why a second booking wasn’t awarded to the frenchman, one could possibly be found in the International Football Association Board’s [IFAB] guidance on awarding fouls. An updated threshold for the 2025/26 season has been given, which states:

“Match officials in the Premier League will maintain a high threshold for penalising challenges – not every contact is a foul – while protecting player safety. The higher threshold will continue to be applied to handball offences too.”

Ibrahima Konate

In the end, despite Newcastle’s huffing and puffing, their efforts unravelled in stoppage time. In the 10th of 11 added minutes, every Liverpool player played a part in a sweeping move that produced a dramatic late winner.

The defeat stretched Newcastle’s winless Premier League run against the Reds to 18 matches, their last victory dating back to 2015, when Gini Wijnaldum found the net before later making the switch to Anfield.