Alan Shearer expressed outrage over referee Chris Kavanagh's failure to award a clear penalty to Newcastle United during their FA Cup match against Aston Villa, which Newcastle won 3-1. The incident happened when Villa's Lucas Digne handled the ball in the penalty area, but Kavanagh controversially ruled it as a free-kick outside the box. Shearer highlighted that such mistakes could change the course of a match and should not be tolerated in professional sports.

The game saw Newcastle secure their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup after a performance marked by strong offensive play, particularly from Sandro Tonali, who scored two goals. However, the narrative in the aftermath of the match was overshadowed by the refereeing decision and the discussion around it, indicating how crucial such moments can be in high-stakes competitions.

This situation raises questions about the implementation of VAR in the FA Cup, as the technology is only available from the fifth round onwards. Shearer suggested that the rules around VAR should be reconsidered, emphasizing that the absence of video review led to an unrecoverable error, affecting the fairness of the game. As discussions about officiating standards continue, the call for improved accountability in refereeing remains urgent.