Pep Guardiola hit out at VAR after Manchester City saw a goal by Antoine Semenyo ruled out during their FA Cup clash with Newcastle, with the City boss launching a sharp post-match complaint about the officials.
City thought they had taken the lead when Semenyo finished in the box, only for the strike to be chalked off following a VAR check. The decision sparked immediate frustration on the touchline and was the main talking point afterwards as Guardiola criticised what he felt was another key moment decided away from the pitch.
Speaking after the game, Guardiola did not hide his anger, questioning the standard of decision-making and the consistency of VAR calls. He insisted City were on the wrong end of the call and suggested the technology is still failing to deliver the clarity it was brought in to provide.
Guardiola also revealed that his reaction was fuelled by lingering bitterness from City’s 2025 FA Cup final defeat to Newcastle, pointing to that result as a wound that has not fully gone away. The City manager made it clear the latest incident only added to his sense of frustration when facing the same opponents in the same competition.
The match continued after the disallowed goal, but the controversy remained central as Guardiola’s comments ensured VAR would once again dominate the conversation around City and the FA Cup.
