'Maybe a red card': Bruno Guimaraes gave his assessment of controversial first-half moment at Stamford Bridge

We didn't exactly have much praise for referee Simon Hooper after he 'officiated' over Newcastle United's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Sunday.

Rich gave the referee a one in his post-match ratings, the lowest score we've handed out, and it was well deserved.

Hooper made plenty of poor calls throughout the match, but the tone was set when he failed to blow for a serious foul on Bruno Guimaraes who was bearing down on goal.

Bruno would have been one-v-one with the goalkeeper if he hadn't been cynically scythed down on the edge of the area.

Simon Hooper completely bottled the decision

We know that linesmen these days let play run on even when they think there was an offside just in case the team scores and VAR later rules that the player was onside, it's covering their own backside.

Therefore we assume that Hooper was trying something similar here, perhaps hoping that VAR would confirm that it was a penalty for him without him having to make the call himself, because from what we could see, there was absolutely no reason not to blow for a foul.

VAR looked at the incident and because the foul occurred just outside the box there was nothing they could do unless they felt it was a red card offence, and while we're not so sure it warranted a red, it was a definite yellow and a free-kick, but we got neither.

Bruno Guimaraes was surprised the free kick was not given

Speaking to NUFC TV after the game about the incident, Bruno Guimaraes said he felt that it was a definite foul.

“Of course, of course. It is a clear foul. In my point of view, they should at least check because it was a one-v-one chance and maybe a red card. The same player got another yellow card so if he had got a yellow card he would be sent off.

“They should check but we should avoid speaking about referees.”