'In England they don't understand the rules': Furious Rafa Benitez hammers officials after Newcastle concede controversial 95TH-MINUTE equaliser against Wolves

Rafa Benitez complained officials do not 'understand the rules' after watching Newcastle concede a 95th minute equaliser at Wolves.

Newcastle were seconds away from a victory to go three points clear of the relegation zone when Willy Boly headed in from close range.

But Benitez felt a foul should have been awarded with Boly laying hands on Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. The Spaniard marched onto the pitch at the final whistle and raged at referee Graham Scott.

Rafa Benitez was incensed after Newcastle conceded a last-minute equaliser at Wolves

Rafa Benitez was incensed after Newcastle conceded a last-minute equaliser at Wolves

The Newcastle United manager stormed onto the field to confront referee Graham Scott

The Newcastle United manager stormed onto the field to confront referee Graham Scott

Benitez later said that referees in England 'don't understand the rules' on fouling the keeper

Benitez later said that referees in England 'don't understand the rules' on fouling the keeper

Benitez's anger was enhanced because Wolves scored a stoppage-time winner at St James' Park in the reverse of this fixture in December, having believed Newcastle should have been given a foul beforehand for an elbow by Boly on Ayoze Perez.


After this latest set-back, he said: 'In England they don't understand the rules. I can say many things but it will not change anything.

'I didn't like the challenge at the end. You have to protect the keeper. We have been here for years and it's still very difficult to explain that.

'We can say it is whatever you want. Maybe it's a foul before on (Miguel) Almiron too, you can say many things but it won't change what happened, like in the first game.'

Benitez did however concede that his goalkeeper could have been stronger. 

'These kinds of balls you can do a little bit better - just punch the ball and finish,' he told Sky Sports.

'I was not very clear watching the replay, but it's something we have to defend better.

'We know that it is England and people will come against the 'keeper so he has to be strong enough.'  

The match at Molineux was in the final minute with Newcastle winning 1-0 when Wolves scored

The match at Molineux was in the final minute with Newcastle winning 1-0 when Wolves scored

Willy Boly climbed above Magpies keeper Martin Dubravka to head in the late leveller

Willy Boly climbed above Magpies keeper Martin Dubravka to head in the late leveller

But the Wolves frontman may have committed a foul on Dubravka in the process of scoring

But the Wolves frontman may have committed a foul on Dubravka in the process of scoring

Newcastle's players and manager believed that Dubravka had been fouled by Boly for the goal 

Newcastle's players and manager believed that Dubravka had been fouled by Boly for the goal 

Newcastle were left crest-fallen after losing two precious points in their survival bid

Newcastle were left crest-fallen after losing two precious points in their survival bid

Dubravka was left floored by Boly as he scored Wolves' equaliser in the 95th minute

Dubravka was left floored by Boly as he scored Wolves' equaliser in the 95th minute

What do the rules say? 

The laws of the game state:

'A goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball when:

  • the ball is between the hands or between the hand and any surface (e.g. ground, own body) or by touching it with any part of the hands or arms except if the ball rebounds from the goalkeeper or the goalkeeper has made a save
  • holding the ball in the outstretched open hand
  • bouncing it on the ground or throwing it in the air

A goalkeeper cannot be challenged by an opponent when in control of the ball with the hands.' 

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That was also the view of Jamaal Lascelles, who in the immediate aftermath of the goal turned his attentions on Dubravka in fiery scenes that at one stage looked like getting physical.

'Martin was talking about more protection, Jamaal was saying that maybe Martin could deal with the cross in another way,' Benitez said. 

'It is a bad way to concede. We had one more point but it is a pity because we could have had three.' 

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo trusted the referee's judgement over the Dubravka decision.

'In the last minute we started putting balls in the box and we got a moment we deserved,' he told Sky Sports. 'The draw put some justice in the game.

'I didn't see the images yet, but it's not my job, it's the referee's job to judge and if he didn't see anything the goal is good.' 

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