Semi-automated offside technology failed at Newcastle for Semenyo goal

‘Edge cases’ blamed for long VAR delay before City’s disallowed goal that frustrated Pep Guardiola.

Referee Chris Kavanagh reviews the VAR monitor, which resulted in a goal scored by Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City (not pictured) being ruled out for offside during the Carabao Cup Semi Final First Leg match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James' Park on January 13, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) failed during Newcastle and Manchester City’s Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday night, leading to a five-minute delay in ruling out an Antoine Semenyo goal.

The lengthy deliberation, that required VAR officials to manually apply the lines which eventually found Erling Haaland to have influenced play from an offside position, became the major talking point of the game. City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, criticised VAR in his post-match interviews and said the offside ruling had helped his team to win because it had made his players “angry”.