Was it the right call? Referee awards controversial penalty against Qarabag

In the first leg of the UEFA Champions League qualifying play-off round, Newcastle travelled away to Qarabag, and it was there that controversy erupted.

Details: In the 31st minute, the referee pointed to the spot after a Newcastle player’s strike struck the arm of a Qarabag defender. The defender was sliding in and had placed his hand on the ground as he fell, yet the official still deemed it a punishable handball and awarded a penalty.

There was further controversy in the match as Vinícius Júnior decided to leave the pitch after hearing racist abuse. He initially refused to continue the game. The stoppage lasted ten minutes.

Recall: Gianluca Prestianni, the Lisbon side’s midfielder, was forced to restrict access to his social media accounts in the middle of the match.