City were incensed after they weren’t given a penalty Ex-PGMOL has now reviewed the footage and he’s come to a conclusion

LIt was supposed to be another ordinary Premier League night, another chapter in Manchester City’s long journey of dominance, another step towards maintaining pressure at the top of the table. But instead, the football world found itself drowning in fresh controversy, a match that started calm and ended in chaos, a match where Newcastle defeated Manchester City 2-1, yet the biggest story was not about the goals— it was about the decisions, the anger, the officiating, and what many fans are calling the biggest robbery of the season. The conversation is no longer about tactics, no longer about substitutions, no longer about missed chances. The heart of the drama now sits on the shoulders of the match officials, VAR, the Premier League rulebook, and a single incident that some people believe changed everything. Even people who have worked at the highest levels of football officiating could not stay silent.

At St James’ Park, the atmosphere crackled with tension, fans shouting, players fighting for every ball, and a match that had a huge impact on the Premier League table. Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United, and everyone watching knew what this result meant for the title race. Manchester City needed the win. Newcastle needed the win. Everyone expected goals and drama, and the first half did not disappoint in intensity even though the scoreboard stayed at 0-0. Add to that the noise and pressure of Newcastle fans, the fast pressing, the intensity, and for a moment football lovers were seeing a blockbuster match unfolding. But as the match moved from football to controversy, the drama became bigger than the 22 players. Even after the final whistle, cameras were not focused on Harvey Barnes, not on Ruben Dias, not on Phil Foden or Kevin De Bruyne. The eyes of football shifted to one person: referee Samuel Barrott. Then to another: VAR Craig Pawson. And then to someone not even on the pitch: former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett, a man who spent years managing referees across the Premier League, stood up and declared boldly that the match officials got a major decision wrong.

The first half already had a moment that people cannot stop talking about. Phil Foden took a shot inside the Newcastle box, and Fabian Schar came sliding in. The contact was clear. Foden hit the ground, shouting in pain, the Manchester City bench jumped up immediately, and every player around the incident screamed for a penalty. Referee Barrott waved his hands to play on, and VAR stayed calm, not even inviting him to the monitor. The Sky cameras zoomed in, Foden’s foot was visibly hit, and social media exploded instantly. Half-time arrived and the score remained 0-0, but the argument had already begun. Something felt wrong. Something felt stolen. But the real tragedy came later.

The second half was pure madness. Harvey Barnes broke the deadlock with a powerful strike from outside the box in the 63rd minute. It was a beautiful goal, a reminder that he can destroy any defence when given space. Manchester City did respond quickly, Ruben Dias scored just five minutes later with a deflected strike. St James’ Park was shaking. 1-1. Everyone prepared for a war in the final thirty minutes. Then Barnes again, this time in the 70th minute, tapping home after a set-piece scramble, making it 2-1 for Newcastle. That goal stopped the world again, but for the wrong reasons. Cameras showed two possible fouls, fans shouted for offside, others argued that Donnarumma had been blocked illegally. VAR paused the match. Seconds turned to minutes. The referee waited. Fans were shouting inside the stadium and online. When the decision finally came and the goal was allowed to stand, the arguments exploded even more. The Premier League later issued a clarification trying to defend the ruling and explain why the goal could not be cancelled. But to many, it didn’t matter. The damage was done.

Yet surprisingly, that was not the decision that shocked former referee Keith Hackett the most. He agreed the second goal was controversial, yes, but he was focused on something else— the first-half incident involving Phil Foden and Fabian Schar. He looked at the rulebook, he studied the footage, and he slammed the decision brutally. In his eyes, Manchester City were robbed of a penalty that should have changed everything. Hackett compared it with the laws of the game and said clearly that if the same foul had happened in midfield, the referee would have given a free-kick immediately. So why was the penalty not given inside the box simply because Foden had already taken his shot? For Hackett, that logic makes no sense. He said it was a foul. He said City were right to be angry. And he said VAR should have intervened.

That statement alone sent Football supporters into madness, but someone else added more fire to the storm— Wayne Rooney. Rooney, who has become known for honest and fearless opinions, watched the footage and went against the referee and VAR as well. His conclusion was similar to Hackett’s. Rooney said the shot happened before the heavy contact, but the contact still affected Foden’s body position and prevented him from shooting perfectly. In simple words, Rooney said it should have been a penalty. Rooney did not hide behind polite language. He stated the referee might have assumed that shooting first meant no foul, but he made it clear that Schar’s tackle impacted Foden. And when you impact a player in the box, even if the ball has been struck, the rules support a penalty.

The Premier League has a rule in the book that explains a situation when contact is “inevitable” between two players. If contact cannot be avoided, referees do not call fouls. But both Hackett and Rooney strongly rejected this explanation. They believe the contact was not “inevitable,” that Schar made a risky tackle, and that the tackle affected the result of the play. It is exactly the type of challenge that gets punished everywhere else on the pitch. So why was Manchester City denied? That is the question that has turned the football world upside down.

Football fans have seen hundreds of VAR decisions. Some good, some terrible. But this one has created a storm because of the consequences. Three points were on the line. The Premier League title race is extremely tight. Arsenal are at the top, Tottenham are fighting, Manchester City cannot afford mistakes. Those three points could end up controlling the Premier League trophy. And that is why the question refuses to die— what would have happened if Manchester City got the penalty? What if Foden had scored and City had taken a 1-0 lead? Would Newcastle have been allowed to sit back? Would Barnes have been as confident later? Would the entire dynamic of the match have changed? Hackett believes yes. Millions of fans believe yes.

Even inside the dressing room, frustration was boiling. Manchester City players surrounded the referee after full-time. Guardiola looked angry, confused and deeply disappointed. The replay screens in the stadium showed the Foden incident over and over. City fans felt betrayed. Newcastle fans were celebrating victory, but even they knew controversy has become the headline.

The title race is now affected. Manchester City remain four points behind Arsenal. And football fans know every point matters. Every match counts. Every decision counts. With the biggest teams fighting neck to neck, one penalty decision could determine the champions in May. And now a major question is whispered across the world— should the Premier League consider a replay? Should referees be investigated? Should VAR rules be rewritten before the season collapses into chaos? Everyone is asking different questions, but the emotion is the same: injustice.

Inside football culture, a single mistake is enough to become history. Some fans already compare this night to the biggest VAR scandals ever recorded. Some say City should protest formally. Some say referees should be suspended. Some say there is no point because apologies and statements never remove points from the table. But what strikes most people is that both the goal controversy and the penalty controversy happened in the same match. Two massive moments, two huge decisions, and both went against Manchester City. Supporters believe lightning rarely strikes twice, yet here it struck twice in one night, inside 90 minutes.

Some people are asking if officials are afraid of changing decisions through VAR. Some say referees are too scared of spotlight. Some believe the rules are too complicated. But one thing is certain— people have lost trust. Even neutral fans want transparency now. Not explanations after matches, not reports on Monday, but real accountability.

The football world is emotional, loud, and full of memory. This match will not be forgotten. Newcastle won the scoreboard, but Manchester City supporters believe something stolen. They will speak about this game until the end of the season. If City lose the league by one or two points, this match will return like a ghost. Clips will be replayed, quotes will be repeated, and football will debate this moment forever.

The Premier League table does not care about feelings. It does not care about what should have happened. It only cares about numbers. Manchester City have zero points from this match, and that is what matters now. Newcastle climb higher with a big victory. Arsenal smile. Tottenham wait. Every club watches the drama and prepares for the next round, because the league does not slow down for heartbreak or controversy.

Fans are still sharing their comments online. Many say the match should be replayed. Many say VAR is destroying football. Many say referees act like robots. Others say Manchester City should accept the result and fight harder. Everyone has an opinion, and nobody is silent.

The City players walked off the pitch with anger in their hearts, but football does not wait for grief. The next match is coming. The title race continues. The story moves on. But this night, this match, this controversy— it will follow Manchester City everywhere, like a shadow. Everything now becomes pressure. Every next match becomes heavy. Every decision becomes a trigger.

Football is not just a sport. It is emotion, memory, pain, and joy. It breaks hearts and heals them. And sometimes, like tonight, it becomes a battlefield not between players but between truth and judgement.

And maybe, just maybe, one day when the trophy is lifted at the end of the season, someone will look back and ask the same question again— did the Premier League title get decided at St James’ Park on the night Manchester City were denied a penalty for Phil Foden?

Because the story is no longer about Newcastle 2-1 Manchester City. It is bigger than the scoreline. It is a story about decisions, power, justice, anger, heartbreak, and what football really means when the rules collide with emotion. And if there is one thing football teaches every season, it is that nights like this shape history more than goals