Pep Guardiola went on a lengthy rant about officiating in England after the referee in Manchester City’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle United took nearly six minutes to disallow a goal by Antoine Semenyo.
In the second half of Tuesday’s semi-final first leg, City’s new forward Semenyo thought he had doubled their lead on the night with his second of the game, only for the goal to be ruled out for ‘subjective offside’ against Erling Haaland following a lengthy VAR check.
Antoine Semenyo thought he had scored his second goal of the game, but it was ruled out after Erling Haaland was deemed to be in an offside position.
It took over five and a half minutes to make the decision. pic.twitter.com/8OXTbzCz41
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In a lengthy rant after his side’s 2-0 win, Guardiola criticised the time it took the officials to come to that offside decision, and listed numerous occasions when he believed City have been harshly judged by video assistant referees.
He mentioned two incidents in the league game between City and Newcastle at St James’ Park in November, as well as the decision not to send off Crystal Palace’s goalkeeper Dean Henderson when he handled the ball outside the box in the FA Cup final in May.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Guardiola said: “I would like to know why VAR, in the 60th minute of the Premier League game against Newcastle (November 22), which we lost 2-1, (when) It was 0-0, it was an insane penalty (foul) from (Fabian) Schar on Phil Foden — not even in consideration.
“And after 20 minutes (of the same game), there is an unbelievable penalty from a shot from Jeremy Doku, that hits the hand, and (it is) not even checked by VAR.
“Today, four people were not able to decide (quickly about the offside) because the line was, I don’t know, but the second goal that Newcastle scored (in the league in November), that was perfect. It was perfect, the line. But 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 after the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace when it’s a red card, after 30 or 40 minutes, for (Dean) Henderson, it’s a red card. Did I say anything? No.
“But OK, it’s fine. The fact that we don’t say. I’m pretty sure Howard Webb (the head of the Premier League’s refereeing body) is going to comment tomorrow and make an explanation about that.”
Semenyo, 26, thought he had scored his third goal in two games for his new club when he flicked home Tijjani Reijnders’ corner. However, officials adjudged Haaland to have been in an offside position and impacting Newcastle centre-back Malick Thiaw’s ability to play the ball.
Guardiola, who was seen speaking to referee Chris Kavanagh after the full-time whistle, continued: “In these games, the little margins, the differences are so (important).
“Listen, I am not suspicious. In 10 years, when we lost semi-finals in big competitions, in the league here, I didn’t say anything. In the touchline sometimes, but nothing (here).
“But, come on, in the same stadium what happened, VAR didn’t intervene. Take a look, take a look. Take a look at the two penalties. Come here in the Premier League and win 0-1 or 0-2 the advantage is a big difference for us.
“And I don’t (take away) any any any credit to Newcastle, I can say they deservedly won the game in the Premier League (in November), but why didn’t (VAR) intervene? Today, it was more than six minutes, and we weren’t even able to discuss it with the referee. But they will call me. This time, they are going to explain it to me.”
The Athletic have contacted the PGMOL for comment.
City host Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium for the second leg of this semi-final tie on February 4.