'Where is the sense?': Ruben Dias fumes as controversial call sees Man City falter in title race

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Evening Standard

·22 November 2025

'Where is the sense?': Ruben Dias fumes as controversial call sees Man City falter in title race

City failed to close gap on league leaders with Tyneside defeat

Ruben Dias has questioned where “the sense” is in Premier League officiating after Manchester City found themselves on the end of a contentious call in their 2-1 defeat at Newcastle United.

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Harvey Barnes’ brace at St James’ Park condemned Pep Guardiola’s side to a loss which sees them miss the chance to cut Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to just one point.

VAR decided that Fabian Schar’s late challenge on Phil Foden in the first half was not worthy of a penalty, and Dias took particular dissatisfaction with the hosts’ winning goal.

It stemmed from a corner which City failed to clear properly, and a floated ball into the back post was nodded down by Nick Woltemade. Bruno Guimaraes piled in to head against the crossbar, before Barnes was there to knock in the rebound.

Dias, however, claimed that Barnes, the goalscorer, had unfairly obstructed visiting goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

"I feel like the one in the first half with Phil [Foden] they said it was pretty clear but I don't even go there,” the centre-back told Sky Sports.

“Of all the decisions, only the second goal we need to make it make sense.

“Where's the sense in their player pushing our keeper out of the goal. What are we allowing and for how long?

“It's more like sometimes you allow it and sometimes you don't so what can you do? In the second goal Gigi [Donnarumma] is being pushed outside his area and there is no consequence.

"I have had a chance to see, I didn't even see it off the pitch.

“I had the chance to see the review and I think it is [Harvey] Barnes pushing him away from the goal.

“We are so picky with certain contacts but then ones like this with the keeper, then they allow it. If this is the rule then fine. But then let us do the same.

“Back in the day it was a foul and now apparently it is allowed. There needs to be a rule."

City pushed for a second equaliser of the game after Dias himself had levelled not long after Barnes had broken the deadlock, but they could not pick apart the deep defensive line that the Toon had adopted.

Erling Haaland was particularly wasteful in front of goal, being denied by Nick Pope a handful of times, while Foden missed a couple of glorious opportunities as City handed Arsenal the advantage in the title race.