Newcastle United's Fabian Schar heads down the tunnel after being shown a red card by match referee Craig Pawson (not pictured) during the Premier League match at St James' Park, Newcastle. PA Images/Alamy Images

Watch: Newcastle's Fabian Schar shown red card after altercation

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Aug 17, 2024 12:16 PM ET

Things got a bit heated less than a half hour into Newcastle's opening Premier League match against Southampton on Saturday.

In the 28th minute, Newcastle defender Fabian Schar had his back turned toward midfield as he attempted to retrieve the ball. Southampton's Ben Brereton Diaz then came crashing into him from behind, toppling Schar and earning him a shove.

During the scuffle, Schar and Diaz's foreheads made contact, and the latter dropped to the turf in apparent agony. Schar was given a straight red card and dismissed from the match, while Diaz only received a yellow for the incident.

Newcastle's Fabian Schär was shown a straight red card after this incident involving Southampton's Ben Brereton Díaz, who was shown a yellow card.#NEWSOU | Peacock pic.twitter.com/XWoV7uoD4q
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 17, 2024

Television viewers could clearly hear the Newcastle home crowd's anguish over the decision, which was decided by the video assistant referee.

However, what Newcastle fans likely view as an injustice was rectified in the 45th minute by forward Joelinton when he put the home team in front 1-0.

Joelinton scores to give Newcastle the lead and send St. James' Park into a frenzy! ⚫️⚪️#NEWSOU | Peacock pic.twitter.com/YVs93UOYE9
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 17, 2024

That would be enough for Newcastle to claim all three points Saturday in what could've been a disaster start to its Premier League season.

Schar's red-card infraction also earned him a two-match ban, meaning he will miss the next two games for his club (at Bournemouth on Aug. 25 and at Nottingham Forest on Aug. 27).

Austen Bundy

Austen Bundy is a journalist and sports junkie from the Washington, D. C. area

More must-reads: