Man City handed new Antoine Semenyo offside verdict as 'ludicrous' VAR decision slammed

Manchester City defeated Newcastle United 2-0 at St. James' Park in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash, but it could have been by a greater margin

Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has blasted the decision to rule out Antoine Semenyo's goal for Man City against Newcastle United, branding it 'ludicrous'. The new arrival had already opened the scoring for Pep Guardiola's men with a smart finish at the far post after great work down the left drom Jeremy Doku.

The former Bournemouth man thought he had added another goal to his name just minutes later. Semenyo sent a clever back-heeled flick beyond Pope into the far corner from a Tijjani Reijnders corner, only for Stuart Attwell on VAR to recommend Chris Kavanagh head to the monitor.

Attwell ruled the goal out with Erling Haaland deemed to be in an offside position and adjudged to have impacted Pope's line of sight, keeping the score at 1-0.

However, it took the officials five minutes to reach that decision, with Pep Guardiola voicing his frustration after the final whistle.

Ex-top-flight official Hackett told Football Insider: "Being in an offside position, in itself, is not an offence. Haaland, judged to be in an offside position, does not interfere with his opponent.

"And certainly hasn’t interfered with the goalkeeper - he's behind him. I think this is a ludicrous decision. The goal should have stood.

"And for the semi-automated offside technology, it appears to be letting our referees down because Stuart Attwell took an age to advise Kavanagh. What a poor decision to rule out this goal."

Rayan Cherki would score a second in extra-time to hand Guardiola's men an advantage heading into the second leg at the Etihad Stadium next month.

Nonetheless, the City boss was left fuming about the VAR decision. Speaking after the game he said: "I will say it now. I would like to know why VAR in 60 minutes in the Premier League game at Newcastle when we lost 2-1, it was 0-0 and it was an insane penalty on Schar for Phil Foden and not even a consideration. And at 20 minutes there is an unbelievable penalty from a shot from Jeremy Doku that hit Thiaw’s hand, and not even VAR.

"Today four people were not able to decide because the line was I don’t know, but the second goal that Newcastle scored (in November) the line was perfect. I’m not suspicious of that in 10 years. I didn’t say anything when we lost 2-1 here.

"I didn’t say anything in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace when it was a red card after 30 minutes for [Dean] Henderson. Did I say anything? No. It’s okay. It’s fine.

"In the same stadium where VAR didn’t intervene? Take a look at 60 minutes and 20 minutes. Take a look at the two penalties. Coming here and winning 1-0 or 2-0 is a big advantage and a big difference for us. I don’t give any credit from Newcastle.

"They won deservedly the Premier League game but why did it intervene in those two moments and today it was more than six minutes and they were not able to discuss with the referee to do it? They will call me and explain it to me."