Newcastle United 2-1 Manchester City: Barnes doubles and late debates over penalties and offsides
Newcastle edge Manchester City 2-1 in a game shaped by contentious refereeing calls, quick-fire goals, and a late offside check, with Guardiola insisting 'everything is fine.'
Pep Guardiola confronted the match official at full-time after Manchester City's 2-1 defeat at Newcastle.
The game was packed with tight calls that left City frustrated, including a potential penalty, a handball claim and a marginal offside. The loss leaves City third, four points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.
Guardiola said after the match that he wouldn’t discuss the refereeing and replied simply: "Nothing. Everything is fine." Sky Sports later reported he went into the referee's room at St James' Park to press the issue, repeating that sentiment.
Barnes scores twice as Newcastle beat City
A foul or not enough to overturn?
At 0-0, Phil Foden burst into the box and shot wide after a challenge from Newcastle defender Nico Schar, who slid in and caught Foden on the ankle. Referee Sam Barrott awarded a goal-kick, with VAR Craig Pawson agreeing on-field.
Premier League rules say contact that’s inevitable can let play continue, but contact that is reckless or serious foul play should lead to a penalty. Barrott judged Schar’s contact not to be reckless, a decision that drew mixed views from pundits.
Former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney told INLIBER Sport: "I think it’s a penalty." Former Newcastle defender Jonathan Woodgate added: "I don’t think he gets the ball, but I don’t think it’s a penalty." Ex-City defender Micah Richards argued: "There is contact, but it isn’t enough to overturn."
Was Guimarães onside or off?
Minutes later, a Doku shot struck Malick Thiaw on the arm, but the decision not to award a penalty on the field was upheld by VAR.
Richards felt a penalty should have been awarded, while questions lingered over Bruno Guimarães’s position in the buildup to Barnes’ second goal, which some replays suggested was onside.
Barnes then finished to seal the win after a five-minute check on the goal.
'I didn't come here to blame'
The defeat leaves City with four league losses from 12 Premier League games for the first time since 2013-14, and they now prepare for a trip to Tottenham on Sunday.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, furious after remonstrating with Newcastle staff, was booked for his protests. Guardiola said Donnarumma felt contact but the officials disagreed, adding: "We are used to it."
Guardiola added: "The last five questions have been about referees. Ask the referees. I didn’t see the images yet and nothing will change. I’m not here to blame; it is what it is."
Key takeaway: Despite the late drama and several appeals, Guardiola refused to blame officiating, underscoring City’s ongoing struggles this season. Source: BBC Sport
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