Newcastle’s disallowed penalty has confused absolutely everyone

Referee Keith Stroud was drowned under a sea of boos at St James' Park during Newcastle United's match against Burton.

Early in the first half, Dwight Gayle was barged over and the referee pointed to the spot. Matt Ritchie stepped up to take it and coolly slotted the ball into the back of the net. Then things got very bizarre. https://twitter.com/_AndyHa/status/849710237242335234 After the spot kick was converted, the referee blew his whistle. However, he was not ordering for it to be retaken, but rather he awarded a free-out to Burton. https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/849702206366511104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.sportsjoe.ie%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D119526%26action%3Dedit Unsurprisingly, the Newcastle players took issue with the bizarre decision, but they're complaints fell on deaf ears as play restarted from the edge of the Burton box. https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/849702382292406275 https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/849702635808710657 https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/849703934780256257 It appeared to be a free out for encroaching, but nobody seems too sure. https://twitter.com/NufcPortal/status/849703362237014017 https://twitter.com/DictateTheGame/status/849704543910854657 https://twitter.com/TutFoster/status/849704493348421634 https://twitter.com/JohnWainwright4/status/849704401732337667