Controversial VAR Decision Overshadows Manchester City's Victory Over Newcastle
Manchester City secured a 2-0 victory against Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, but the match was marred by a controversial VAR decision that disallowed a goal from Antoine Semenyo in the second half.
The £65 million January signing put City ahead in the 53rd minute and appeared to have scored a second goal just ten minutes later, deftly flicking Tijjani Reijnders' cross past goalkeeper Nick Pope.
However, after a five-and-a-half-minute VAR review, the goal was disallowed due to an offside call against Erling Haaland, who was deemed to have interfered with play.
“The second goal should have stood,” Semenyo stated after the match.
Haaland was involved in a challenge with Newcastle's Malick Thiaw at the time, and it was ruled that he obstructed the defender's ability to prevent Semenyo's shot.
Referee Chris Kavanagh reviewed the incident multiple times on the pitch-side monitor before announcing the disallowed goal to the crowd at St James' Park.
In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, City manager Pep Guardiola expressed that the disallowed goal would ultimately make his team “stronger.”
Team captain Bernardo Silva also shared his disappointment regarding the decision, especially in light of a previous match where Phil Foden was wrongly denied a penalty at the same venue earlier this season.
“It should have been 3-0, but we are quite used to this at the moment,” Silva remarked. “It is so frustrating because the last time we came here, we also faced numerous unfavorable decisions.”
City managed to score a second goal deep into stoppage time, with Rayan Cherki finding the net past Pope.
'The decision is technically correct in law'
Following a weekend where fans enjoyed FA Cup matches without VAR interference, the experience at St James' Park was starkly different.
It took five minutes and 30 seconds from the moment Semenyo scored what he believed was Manchester City's second goal until referee Kavanagh signaled for the VAR review.
The task for VAR official Stuart Attwell was complicated by a failure of the semi-automated offside technology, which had previously malfunctioned during the teams' December encounter. This required Attwell to revert to traditional methods of drawing lines.
While the decision was technically correct under the laws of the game, as Haaland was offside and involved with a defender who could have prevented the goal, many fans viewed it differently. They saw a legitimate goal negated by an offside offense that might have gone unnoticed without VAR intervention.
If the decision had been rendered swiftly, it may have inspired more confidence. However, the prolonged delay has fueled controversy and given the impression of uncertainty regarding the VAR's decision. It might have been better for the VAR to let the goal stand.
A technically correct decision does not always align with the spirit of the game.
'I don't think we should be taking away goals' - Pundits' Reactions
Former Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers striker Chris Sutton echoed Guardiola and Silva's sentiments, describing Kavanagh's ruling as a “sheer guess.”
“I think the game has gone,” Sutton added. “Is Thiaw really going to stop that? The distance from Semenyo is just a yard, a yard and a half. Thiaw is not going to react to that.”
Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp, along with Newcastle defender Dan Burn, acknowledged that the decision to annul Semenyo's goal was accurate, though they criticized the process.
“If they had given the goal, no one would have thought it should have been disallowed,” Redknapp commented. “But by the letter of the law, whether we like it or not, it is the right decision.”
Burn, who missed the match due to injury, added, “I do think it is the right decision, but I dislike the subjective nature of offside. It’s either offside or it’s not.”
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards expressed his understanding of the VAR process but criticized the decision. “VAR wasn’t introduced for this reason. This feels like re-refereeing the game. It might be technically right, but I don’t think we should be taking away goals for this. Why take five minutes?”
Fan Reactions
Aman: Get rid of VAR! It’s a joke; the officials are trying to find reasons to disallow goals! There was no reason to rule out that second goal!
Mick: The worst VAR decision I have ever seen. They are re-refereeing the game.
George: As fans, we didn’t ask for VAR; it was imposed on us, and it’s ruining the game. As soon as the ref goes to the screen, we all know how it’s going to end. It just takes too long. Rubbish.
Finn: So VAR has decided that Haaland made Pope jump forward and try to stop the shot. WOW. Laughable.
Ian: That was a terrible offside decision; you couldn’t tell if it was on or offside! If it’s not obvious, it should be a goal! Football is supposed to be about scoring goals! VAR is slowly killing the game.