Manchester City's victory over Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semifinals was marred by a controversial VAR decision. Antoine Semenyo's goal, which would have extended City's lead, was disallowed after a lengthy review. The delay was due to a failure in the semi-automated offside technology (SOAT), forcing officials to draw lines manually to determine if Erling Haaland was offside.

The VAR review process took five minutes, causing frustration among fans and players. Referee Chris Kavanagh eventually agreed with the VAR's assessment, ruling Haaland offside by a minimal margin. This decision, while technically correct, sparked criticism over the inefficiency and delay caused by the malfunctioning technology.

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges with VAR in high-stakes matches. The lack of reliable technology, such as SOAT, led to a subjective decision that impacted the game's outcome. This incident will likely prompt discussions on improving VAR protocols and technology to prevent similar issues in future matches.