Guardiola Critiques VAR Amidst City’s Victory Over Newcastle

Manchester City made a significant advancement towards Wembley on Tuesday evening, defeating defending champions Newcastle United 2-0 at St James’ Park in the first leg of their semi-final tie.

However, the match outcome was overshadowed by a passionate address from Pep Guardiola during the post-match press conference, where he delivered a scathing critique of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. He specifically highlighted a protracted six-minute review that resulted in the disallowance of a goal scored by new signing Semenyo. This incident prompted Guardiola to express a range of historical grievances, portraying himself as a manager who believes his team is consistently subjected to a different standard than their competitors.

Semenyo had already found the net once, momentarily silencing the home crowd, but his celebrations for a second goal were abruptly halted by an agonizingly lengthy VAR check for a marginal offside. For Guardiola, the duration of the delay and the ambiguity surrounding the “lines” employed by officials illustrated a system in disarray.

The pivotal moment occurred in the second half when Semenyo seemed to have doubled his tally and effectively sealed the match. After he celebrated, the game was paused for nearly six minutes as the VAR team at Stockley Park deliberated over offside lines. When the goal was ultimately disallowed, it did little to alleviate the confusion experienced both in the stadium and in the dugout.

Guardiola’s agitation was palpable from the touchline, and his frustrations spilled over in the press room. “Today four people were unable to make a decision because the line was, I don’t know,” Guardiola expressed with evident irritation. He contrasted the meticulous scrutiny applied to City’s goals with what he perceives as leniency afforded to opponents, specifically referencing Newcastle’s previous goals. “The second goal that Newcastle scored [in a prior match], the line was perfect. I’m not suspicious of that in 10 years.”

The City manager then issued a direct challenge to the head of referees, indicating that he expects a visit from Howard Webb to clarify the review process. “I’m pretty sure Howard Webb is going to come in tomorrow to provide an explanation for that,” he stated.

The disallowed goal seemed to act as a catalyst for Guardiola, unleashing a flood of frustrations regarding officiating decisions at St James’ Park. He reflected on the controversial 2-1 Premier League defeat at the same venue last November, where Phil Foden appeared to be fouled by Fabian Schar late in the match, but neither the on-field referee nor VAR intervened.

“I will say it now, I would like to know why VAR in the Premier League game at Newcastle when we lost 2-1 didn’t even consider an obvious penalty on Schar for Phil Foden,” Guardiola remarked. His frustrations were seemingly validated when the Key Match Incidents Panel later confirmed that a mistake had been made by not awarding the penalty.

The inconsistency in officiating is a source of frustration for Guardiola: a six-minute detailed examination to annul a City goal versus the quick dismissal of a clear foul on a City player. “I didn’t say anything when we lost 2-1 here,” he reminded the press, indicating that his patience has finally reached its limit.

Remarkably, Guardiola’s grievances extended beyond Newcastle, revisiting the disappointment from the 2025 FA Cup final. In that match, City felt wronged by a decision involving goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who appeared to handle the ball outside the area, an act that warranted a red card, yet he faced no consequences.

“I didn’t say anything in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace when it was a red card after 30 minutes for Henderson,” Guardiola recalled. “Did I express my frustration? No. It’s fine. In 10 years when we lost semi-finals in major competitions, I’ve remained silent. On the touchline, perhaps I showed some emotion, but here [in the press conference], I had nothing to say.”

Despite Guardiola’s complaints, Manchester City remains in a strong position heading into the second leg. Their 2-0 victory at the challenging St James’ Park reflects their professionalism amid the turmoil. Semenyo, despite the disallowed goal, posed a continual threat, and the team’s defensive strength ensures they carry a substantial advantage back to the Etihad Stadium.

The return leg is set for February 4, where City will aim to secure their place in the final against either Chelsea or Arsenal.