‘Referee is a victim’ - Ex-ref responds to Gary Neville as Newcastle United ‘tactic’ questioned

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has given his view on Gary Neville’s claim that Newcastle United orchestrated a break in play on Friday night to get some tactical messages onto the pitch.

The moment in question came during the first-half when Aaron Ramsdale went down off the ball to receive treatment on a hamstring injury. The Newcastle United physio was allowed onto the field of play and the game paused so he could receive treatment.

During that break in play, Eddie Howe was seen speaking to Lewis Hall, the nearest player to where he was standing, before instructions were barked by the defender to his teammates. Prior to this, Manchester United had surprisingly set up with a four-man defence as Ruben Amorim experimented with his starting XI.

On commentary duty for Sky Sports, Neville admitted he had taken a cynical view on Ramsdale’s injury, suggesting that the visitors were using it for tactical reasons: “I’m going to be a little bit cynical and I might be proved completely wrong,” Neville said, “I think Eddie Howe told Lewis Hall to tell Aaron Ramsdale to go down. I think there’s a message gone on and they’re changing off the back of what [Manchester] United are doing.

“Look at what Lewis Hall is doing. I think Eddie Howe has said ‘stop the game’.

“Might be cynical but look at Lewis Hall who has turned into a coach all of a sudden. I think he might have said to the goalkeeper ‘stay down, or get down, and we will change things up a little bit’.”

Speaking on Sky Sports Ref Watch, Gallagher was asked about that incident, he responded: “[The] referee is a victim isn’t he? He has no power.

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“Goalkeeper goes down, you can’t play without a goalkeeper, you’ve got to have him [the physio] on to be looked at. The physio will say he needs time [to recover] but it’s out of his [the referee’s] hands.”

Dermot Gallagher’s view on Lisandro Martinez penalty claim

Elsewhere at Old Trafford, Newcastle United were denied a penalty despite the ball striking Lisandro Martinez’s outstretched arm in the box. The defender had just been wrestling with Malick Thiaw as the corner was taken, with Fabian Schar’s volley then striking him on the arm.

Despite huge claims of a penalty from the Magpies players and supporters, referee Anthony Taylor was unmoved and VAR agreed with the Altrincham-based official’s call and instructed play to continue. On that decision, Gallagher added: “Right call. I don't think the referee can see it, but it comes off his own chest and onto his arm. “It bounces up onto his arm. I think it hits his chest.”

Defeat on Boxing Day to the Red Devils ensured that the Magpies would end the day in the bottom half of the Premier League table and trailing Manchester United by six points. A clash against Burnley awaits Howe’s side on Tuesday night (7:30pm kick-off) before they welcome Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace to St James’ Park on Sunday 4 January for their first match of 2026.

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