Newcastle United fans will be delighted with UEFA decision ahead of crunch PSG Champions League clash

Newcastle United head to the French capital on Wednesday night with hopes of securing a place in the Champions League Round of 16.

Eddie Howe’s side know that a win would guarantee them a place in the Round of 16 and thus, crucially, avoiding a two-legged play-off game being added to their already hectic fixture schedule. However, reigning European champions PSG also must win on Wednesday night to ensure they finish in the top-eight.

Luis Enrique’s side were beaten by Sporting CP last week - a result that ensured they would head into the final league phase game needing a result to ensure a top-eight finish. PSG and the Magpies are level on points in the league phase table, with the Parisians ahead sat above Howe’s side in the table only by virtue of goals scored.

Newcastle United and PSG of course have history in this competition having met in the group stages of Newcastle United’s last Champions League campaign. A stunning 4-1 victory at St James’ Park for the Magpies was followed by a hugely controversial 1-1 draw in Paris in their penultimate game of the group stage - a result that ultimately cost Howe and his players a spot in the knockout rounds.

UEFA make PSG v Newcastle United Champions League referee decision

That draw at the Parc des Princes will be remembered infamously for Szymon Marciniak’s baffling late decision to award the hosts a penalty for a handball by Tino Livramento. Despite the ball deflecting off the England international onto his arm, the Polish official changed his call of no penalty following a review by VAR and awarded the hosts a spot-kick.

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Kylian Mbappe converted from 12 yards to steal a point for PSG and ultimately help their progression to the last-16 at Newcastle United’s expense. PSG would progress to the semi-finals of that competition before falling to Borussia Dortmund - the other team that progressed from the ‘group of death’ alongside AC Milan and Newcastle United.

This time around, though, to the relief of Newcastle United supporters around the globe, Marciniak will not have a role to play in their meeting with PSG on Wednesday night. Instead, it will be Slovenian official Slavko Vincic that will referee their meeting at the Parc des Princes.

Vincic has refereed five Champions League matches this season, with his latest coming at Stade Velodrome as Liverpool put three goals past Marseille. Vincic also refereed Chelsea’s win over Barcelona in November, sending off Ronald Araujo in the process for two bookable offences.

Vincic will be assisted by an all Slovenian refereeing team in Paris on Wednesday night with Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic acting as his assistants. David Smajc will act as fourth official at the Parc des Princes. VAR will be operated by German official Christian Dingert and he will be assisted by Sascha Stegemann.

Kick-off at the Parc des Princes is scheduled for 8pm (UK time) and will be one of 18 matches to kick-off simultaneously across Europe with all 36 teams competing in this season’s Champions League to end their league phase campaign at the same time.

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