It’s safe to say that VAR is once again at the center of controversy after Manchester City’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle on Tuesday.
A decision that left both players and fans fuming unfolded when Antoine Semenyo’s goal was ruled out after a lengthy six-minute delay.
Semenyo’s Disallowed Goal Sparks Outrage
Everything seemed to be going perfectly for Manchester City when Semenyo, fresh from his first goal of the night, appeared to have doubled the lead.
His flick from a Tijjani Reijnders corner hit the back of the net at St James’ Park, and the away fans began celebrating.
However, the joy was short-lived as the goal was controversially ruled out after a “subjective offside” review by VAR.
The issue? Officials claimed that Erling Haaland was offside in the buildup and that his positioning interfered with Newcastle defender Malick Thiaw’s ability to play the ball.
A decision that many, including City players, found questionable.
Six Minutes of Waiting and Wondering
The VAR team, led by Stuart Attwell and Craig Taylor, took over four minutes to suggest an on-field review.
After another two minutes of review, referee Chris Kavanagh decided to chalk off the goal.
In total, more than six minutes passed between the ball hitting the net and the game being restarted.
As you might imagine, the delay left a bitter taste in the mouths of players and supporters alike.
Semenyo, visibly frustrated as he walked off the pitch, told the cameras, “The second goal should have counted by the way.”
Bernardo Silva’s Frustration
Even though Manchester City ultimately went on to win the match, Bernardo Silva couldn’t hold back his frustration with the decision.
Speaking to ITV, Silva said, “It should have been 3-0.” He added, “I don’t want to say too much because we know how these things work, but I saw it and it just looks ridiculous to me.”
He didn’t sugarcoat it either, noting, “Even though we won, it is still frustrating.”
It’s clear that Silva, like many others, didn’t feel the decision was justified, especially considering how the match had been progressing.
Alan Shearer Calls Out the Decision
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer, a man who’s no stranger to VAR controversy, didn’t mince his words when speaking about the disallowed goal.
He admitted that had the decision gone against the Magpies, he would have been “going mad.”
His frustration was evident as he declared, “It’s c**p and they’ve got it all wrong.”
The ex-Newcastle striker wasn’t the only one disillusioned by the incident.
Sky Sports’ Chris Sutton, commenting on the match, also voiced his displeasure, stating, “The game’s gone.”
Fans in Uproar Over VAR
As you can imagine, the VAR decision quickly sparked outrage on social media.
Fans were quick to vent their frustration, with many pointing out how the technology has disrupted the flow of the game.
One fan wrote, “VAR rules out perfectly good goals and destroys the fan experience, for no material gain.
The most destructive change to the sport we have ever seen.”
Another added, “They’re absolutely ruining this sport.
That decision should kill off VAR.” It’s clear that the frustration felt by both players and pundits has been shared by fans all over the world.
Semenyo’s Redemption and City’s Dominance
Despite the VAR setback, Semenyo wasn’t done making an impact.
Just eight minutes into the second half, he put City ahead with another composed finish, cementing his growing reputation following his £65 million move from Bournemouth.
Rayan Cherki then sealed the deal for City, scoring in stoppage time to give the visitors a commanding 3-0 lead.
The final score left Newcastle with a mountain to climb ahead of the second leg at the Etihad.
For City, it was a crucial win on the road, but for Newcastle, it was yet another reminder of the fine line between triumph and controversy in the modern game.
As for VAR, the debate is far from over.
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