Leeds United Boss Farke Questions Penalty Decision After 4-3 Newcastle Defeat

Newcastle United edged Leeds United 4-3 at St. James' Park, with Harvey Barnes scoring a 102nd-minute winner after a disputed penalty decision against Brenden Aaronson. Leeds led three times but left with nothing,

ending a six-match unbeaten Premier League run and reviving debate over handball calls in high-pressure moments.

Daniel Farke strongly challenged the late penalty award that allowed Bruno Guimaraes to level at 3-3 from the spot. Aaronson was penalised for handball while trying to block a cross, and referee Michael Salisbury pointed to the spot, with VAR supporting the decision. Farke believed the officials should have allowed play to continue.

"It was more like on the line, but not one intention to play the ball, the German told Sky Sports. In this sense of the game, it should never be a penaltly but we have to accept it. There was a lot of pressure on the referees with the whole home crowd looking for a penalty. "

Before the late twist, Leeds had produced one of the most assertive away displays of the season. Aaronson struck twice, either side of a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty, to give Leeds three separate leads. Each advantage was wiped out by Newcastle United, who refused to let the Premier League contest slip away.

Statistically, the match entered Premier League history for its chaotic finale. Barnes' goal arrived at 101:48, recorded as the latest winner in the competition since data collection began in 2006-07. That moment completed Newcastle United's comeback and condemned Leeds to another 4-3 defeat after holding repeated leads.

Leeds became the first side since their own 4-3 loss to Tottenham in November 2022 to go ahead three times in a Premier League match and still lose. Despite the setback, Leeds stayed 16th in the table, remaining eight points clear of the relegation zone, which offers some comfort amid the disappointment.

"Football. Sometimes you have such a heartbreaking moment at the end in an away game, Farke added. I think it was a top game, an advertisement for the Premier League. There were mistakes otherwise, there wouldnt be so many goals. The lads showed an inspired performance, one of our best away performances here at Newcastle. It's such a tough place to go and to show such a brave performance, to lead three times, Im pretty proud of my lads. "

102 - Harvey Barnes 102nd-minute goal for Newcastle against Leeds (101:48) is the latest winner on record (from 2006-07) scored in a Premier League match. Bedlam. pic.twitter.com/qk0b6Tfoi7OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 7, 2026

Aaronson experienced a personal mix of success and regret in the Premier League clash. The midfielder became the first player since Grant Holt for Norwich City against Swansea City in February 2012 to score twice and concede a penalty in the same match, underlining how central Aaronson was to almost every major incident.

"I am devastated, it's annoying when you score two and mentally I turned off for a minute, and I know I can't lift my hand like this around the box, the American said, in contrast to Farke's opinion. It's football at the end of the day. I am mad at myself, but I think we could have done better defending on a couple of occasions. To come here and go up three times in a row and almost tie and almost win the game shows how good this team is and we need to keep going from here. "

The defeat leaves Leeds reflecting on missed defensive chances and fine margins in Premier League matches of this intensity. Farke praised the courage shown at such a demanding venue, while Aaronson accepted responsibility for the key penalty incident. Both views underline a shared belief that Leeds competed strongly, despite Newcastle United taking all three points.