BBC PUNDIT ABSOLUTELY DESTROYS RUBEN DIAS IN FURIOUS RANT OVER NEWCASTLE VS MAN CITY VAR DECISION THAT HAS LEFT THE ENTIRE PREMIER LEAGUE IN CHAOS! YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HE CALLED IT!

Former England stars Wayne Rooney and Rob Green have shared detailed assessments of several contentious flashpoints from Newcastle United’s dramatic victory over Manchester City at St James’ Park.

The match, which saw Eddie Howe finally claim his first Premier League win over Pep Guardiola, was packed with debate-worthy moments—none more so than the decisive goal scored by Harvey Barnes.

Barnes struck twice in the space of seven minutes, with Ruben Dias briefly levelling for City in between.

His second, a close-range finish that ultimately sealed the win, immediately sparked fierce protests from the Manchester City players and coaching staff.

Their complaints centred on two key issues: whether Bruno Guimarães had been offside in the build-up, and whether goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had been fouled just moments before the ball hit the net.

A prolonged VAR check eventually deemed that Guimarães had timed his run correctly and was onside.

As for Donnarumma, neither on-field referee Sam Barrott nor VAR official Craig Pawson judged that he had been impeded, allowing the goal to stand despite City’s animated objections.

Match of the Day pundits dissect Newcastle vs Man City decision

On Match of the Day, Barnes’ winner became the focal point of the post-match analysis. Rob Green, himself a former England goalkeeper, surprisingly sided with the officials rather than supporting his fellow shot-stopper.

“For me, it’s a goal,” Green insisted. “This is something we’re seeing more and more—goalkeepers getting dragged across towards the near post because there’s so much movement in front of them.

“Donnarumma gets sucked in. He commits before Barnes even makes contact. If he stays set when Gvardiol heads the ball, he just catches it above his head.

It’s that simple: stand still. It’s incredibly tough psychologically for goalkeepers, because you want to get involved, but he gets drawn out of position.”

Green acknowledged there was a slight nudge on Donnarumma but maintained it was not enough to warrant a foul.

“That’s twice it has happened now. Something has to change. Donnarumma has to adapt—this is the Premier League.”

Ruben Dias, who scored City’s equaliser, later voiced his disappointment at the decision, expressing the view that his side should have been given a free-kick.

City were further frustrated earlier in the match when a VAR check on Fabian Schär’s challenge on Phil Foden did not lead to a penalty award.

Rooney, analysing the first-half incident, strongly disagreed with the officials’ decision. “I think it’s a penalty,” he said.

“City work the ball well—Doku drifts inside, slides a superb pass to Foden, and from there Foden stretches to reach it.

The defender comes across, doesn’t get the ball and clearly makes contact with Foden’s foot. That’s a foul.”

Rooney went on to emphasise the severity of the challenge: “It’s reckless.

You look at the impact—the defender’s leg is straight, studs showing, and he catches Foden on top of the foot. That, for me, is a clear penalty.”