Football
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Referee admits to bizarre penalty blunder in Newcastle-Burton match

Referee Keith Stroud has admitted he blundered by not allowing Newcastle to try again with the penalty disallowed for encroachment in the 1-0 win over Burton on Wednesday.

Matt Ritchie had a penalty ruled out after half an hour in controversial circumstances that briefly threatened to derail the Magpies' push for the Championship title.

Stroud awarded Burton an indirect free kick rather than asking for the spot kick to be retaken after Dwight Gayle had dashed into the penalty area before the ball was struck.

The rules of the game indicate that Newcastle should have been allowed a second chance from 12 yards, and referees' body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) confirmed that Stroud had made an error.

A statement from PGMOL said: "In the Championship game between Newcastle United and Burton Albion, referee Keith Stroud awarded Newcastle a penalty in the 29th minute.

"As Matt Ritchie took the kick, Dwight Gayle encroached in the penalty area. An indirect free kick was awarded to Burton, but the laws of the game state that that the penalty kick should have been retaken.

"Unfortunately, the referee has misapplied the law. Keith and his team are understandably upset at the lapse in concentration and apologise for the mistake."

Press Association Sport reported that Stroud would not take charge of the League One match between Gillingham and Millwall on Saturday, which he had been scheduled to officiate.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez was keen to focus on a Ritchie goal that did count after Newcastle reclaimed top spot.

The winger struck a stunning winner with 22 minutes remaining as Newcastle pulled 10 points clear of the playoff places.

Benitez said of the penalty controversy: "You have seen the incident, you have a lot of experts to analyse, I was talking to the referee. I will not keep talking about that.

"For me it was an important game, a fantastic goal from Matt Ritchie, a great goal. There was work rate, a lot of positives and unfortunately we talk about the incident.

"The referee and me have been talking. We need to move forward. We can't change what happened. We got three points.

"After the incident we were losing our focus. We won."

Benitez's opposite number Nigel Clough was also not too concerned about the incident but felt the penalty, awarded when Gayle went down under a challenge from Tom Flanagan, should not have been given in the first place.

He said: "I am pleased it wasn't the game-deciding issue. Somebody has put the ball in the top corner. I am pleased about that. You don't want controversial decisions to decide matches."

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