The Premier League has been compelled to issue a detailed explanation after a contentious VAR review during Newcastle United's clash with Manchester City at St James' Park left fans and pundits debating a pivotal offside call.
The Goal That Sparked Controversy
After a goalless first half on Saturday evening, the match erupted into life with two quick goals. Harvey Barnes broke the deadlock for Newcastle, only for Ruben Dias to equalise for Manchester City shortly after with a deflected strike. The drama intensified when Barnes scored his second, putting the Magpies back in front at 2-1.
However, the celebrations were put on hold as the Video Assistant Referee initiated a lengthy check. The goal originated from a Nick Woltemade header towards the back post, where Bruno Guimaraes struck the crossbar. The rebound fell favourably for Barnes, who controlled the ball expertly before firing it into the roof of the net from close range.
VAR Deliberation and Fan Reaction
Immediately after the ball hit the net, Manchester City's players surrounded the match official, vehemently protesting that Guimaraes was in an offside position when Woltemade made the initial headed pass. This view was echoed by former Newcastle defender Jonathan Woodgate during his BBC Radio 5 Live commentary, who stated, "I think Guimaraes is offside from the Woltemade header."
Social media platforms ignited with similar reactions from fans. One supporter questioned the lack of visual evidence, posting, "What happened to the lines? Bruno surely offside there!" as the VAR deliberation stretched on.
The Official Verdict from the Premier League
After a sustained delay, the referee confirmed the goal, prompting huge cheers from the home crowd. The Premier League's official Match Centre subsequently released a statement to clarify the decision.
The statement confirmed that the referee's original call of a goal was checked and upheld by the VAR. It specified that both Bruno Guimaraes and Harvey Barnes were in onside positions during the build-up. Furthermore, the VAR also checked and confirmed there was no foul on the goalkeeper prior to the goal.
Crucially, the Premier League supported its explanation with images that demonstrated Manchester City defender Ruben Dias had played Guimaraes onside with his shoulder, making the Brazilian midfielder eligible to receive the ball and ultimately leading to Barnes' decisive finish.
