The Carabao Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Newcastle will be remembered for all the wrong reasons, as a contentious VAR decision stole the headlines in City's 2-0 win. The match, which saw Manchester City's £65m January signing Antoine Semenyo score his second goal in two games, was marred by a five-and-a-half-minute VAR check that disallowed a second goal for the forward.
The incident in question occurred when Semenyo flicked Tijjani Reijnders' cross past Nick Pope, only to be denied a third goal in two games for his new side. The reason for the disallowance was Erling Haaland's alleged interference with play from an offside position, which was deemed to have obstructed Newcastle's Malick Thiaw from stopping Semenyo's effort. Referee Chris Kavanagh's decision to disallow the goal was met with widespread criticism, with many arguing that the goal should have stood.
"The second goal should have stood," Semenyo said after the game, echoing the sentiments of his teammates and manager.
Pep Guardiola, speaking to Sky Sports after the game, said the disallowed goal will make his side "stronger", while captain Bernardo Silva voiced his frustration with the decision. Silva's comments were particularly telling, given the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel had previously admitted that Phil Foden was wrongfully denied a penalty in City's Premier League defeat at the same venue earlier in the season.
"It should have been 3-0 but we are quite used to this at the moment," said Silva. "It is so frustrating because the last time we came here we also had a lot of decisions go against us." The City captain's words were a stark reminder of the growing frustration among players and fans with the current state of VAR in the Premier League.
The job of the VAR, Stuart Attwell, was made harder by the failure of the semi-automated offside technology, which meant he had to revert to the old technology and draw lines. While the decision to disallow the goal was technically correct in law, many argued that it was not in the spirit of the game. The fact that the decision took five minutes and 30 seconds to make only added to the controversy, giving the impression that the VAR was not certain.
As former Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers striker Chris Sutton pointed out, "I think the game has gone. Is Thiaw really going to stop that? The distance from Semenyo is a yard, a yard and a half. Thiaw is not going to react to that." Sutton's comments were echoed by many, who felt that the decision was a sheer guess on the part of the referee.
The controversy surrounding the VAR decision has sparked a wider debate about the role of technology in football. While some argue that VAR is essential for ensuring fairness and accuracy, others believe that it is ruining the game. As one fan pointed out, "I don't think we should be taking away goals. It's a game of football, not a game of technology."
In conclusion, the Carabao Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Newcastle will be remembered for the controversy surrounding the VAR decision, rather than the football itself. While the decision may have been technically correct, it was a stark reminder of the need for greater clarity and consistency in decision-making. As the debate surrounding VAR continues to rage on, one thing is certain: the beautiful game is in danger of being lost in a sea of technology.
Original: BBC Sport
Image: BBC Sport
Written by Npsports
