A lengthy Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review that chalked off a Manchester City goal during their Carabao Cup clash with Newcastle United has been attributed to technical limitations and a crowded penalty area. The incident, which caused a delay of over five minutes, saw a potential second goal for new signing Antoine Semenyo ruled out.
Why the VAR Check Took So Long
The core of the delay stemmed from the inability to use semi-automated offside technology (SAOT). This system, designed to speed up decisions, could not be deployed because of the high number of players in the box during the build-up to the goal. Officials were forced to manually draw crosshairs using the older, slower VAR system to determine the offside line.
The Premier League refers to such scenarios where SAOT fails as 'edge cases'. The check ultimately determined that Erling Haaland was in an offside position and interfered with play by holding Newcastle defender Malick Thiaw. Referee Chris Kavanagh confirmed the decision after reviewing the pitchside monitor, leading to the disallowance.
Guardiola's Frustration with Inconsistency
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola voiced his frustration post-match, highlighting perceived inconsistencies in VAR rulings. He pointed to a previous league encounter where Newcastle's winner against City was also subject to a long offside review. Guardiola also questioned why his team were not awarded two penalties in that November fixture.
An independent Key Match Incidents panel later agreed that one of those incidents, a challenge on Phil Foden, should have resulted in a spot-kick. Guardiola suggested he expected a call from PGMOL chief Howard Webb for an explanation regarding the Semenyo incident, though no such contact was immediately confirmed.
The Broader Impact on the Game
Despite the frustration, Guardiola claimed the protracted delay served to strengthen his team's resolve during the match, which City went on to win. The event has reignited debate about the application and speed of VAR technology in football, particularly in complex, crowded situations where the latest automated tools cannot function.
The incident underscores a significant challenge for match officials: balancing the pursuit of accuracy with the flow of the game when technology encounters its limitations. As the use of SAOT expands, managing these 'edge cases' will remain a critical point of discussion for the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) and the leagues it serves.
