Referee Mark Clattenburg has apologised for not punishing Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon for Sunday's horror challenge on Newcastle striker Andy Carroll, 18, says the Mirror.

Toon boss Sam Allardyce labelled the incident "common assault" and compared it to Germany keeper Harald Schumacher's infamous 1982 World Cup clash with Patrick Battiston of France.

Clattenburg did not punish Buffon or blow for a foul, but Carroll said: "The ref said at half-time he made the wrong decision."