Newcastle told to issue ‘immediate bans’ as footage from Man City defeat emerges

Newcastle United have been urged by some supporters to take firm action after a video circulating on social media sparked controversy ahead of the Magpies’ 3–1 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City at St James’ Park.

The hosts had made a promising start to the tie, taking the lead through Harvey Barnes, who sent the home crowd into celebration with an early opener. However, the momentum quickly shifted as City responded before half-time through Savinho. The visitors then took control of the contest in the second half thanks to a clinical brace from Omar Marmoush, whose two goals sealed Newcastle’s exit from yet another cup competition. Notably, Marmoush continues to enjoy facing the Magpies, with half of his goals in English football coming against the North East side.

While the action on the pitch ultimately decided the outcome of the fifth-round clash, it was events before kick-off that caught the attention of fans online. St James’ Park is widely regarded as one of the most atmospheric venues in England, with Newcastle supporters known for their passionate backing of the team. But footage captured outside the ground ahead of the 8pm kick-off sparked debate among fans.

The clip, which was shared on the official The Football Association page for the Emirates FA Cup on X (formerly Twitter), showed new Manchester City signing Antoine Semenyo greeting supporters and signing autographs before the match. Semenyo, who started the game on the bench, was filmed interacting with fans located near the pitchside area of the home section.

Because the travelling Manchester City supporters were located in the upper tier, the individuals closest to Semenyo in the footage appeared to be Newcastle fans. At one point in the video, a supporter could even be seen holding a sky-blue Manchester City shirt for the forward to sign.

The clip quickly gained traction online, attracting more than one million views. However, many viewers were left stunned by what they saw, particularly given Semenyo’s previous association with Newcastle’s fierce rivals. The forward spent time on loan at Sunderland AFC in 2020, a fact that did not go unnoticed by sections of the Newcastle fanbase.

As the video spread across social media, some supporters expressed anger and frustration, with several calling for the individuals featured in the footage to face consequences. A number of fans even suggested that the club should issue stadium bans to those seen interacting with the Manchester City player.

One user wrote that everyone visible in the clip should be banned from attending matches at St James’ Park, questioning how those supporters had managed to obtain tickets when others had been unsuccessful in the ballot system. Another fan echoed the sentiment, directly urging the club to take action against those present in the video.

Others were particularly upset that the interaction involved a Manchester City shirt and a player with links to Sunderland, arguing that such scenes should not occur in the home section during a Newcastle fixture. One frustrated supporter even called for a “lifelong ban” for the fans involved.

At the time of writing, there has been no official response from Newcastle United regarding the incident, and it remains unclear whether the club will investigate or take any disciplinary measures.

However, while the debate among supporters continues, one figure connected to the match has already been handed a suspension. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola received his sixth yellow card of the season during the game after confronting fourth official Lewis Smith following a foul on winger Jeremy Doku.

Because of that booking, Guardiola will now serve a two-match touchline ban. The suspension means he will be absent from the dugout for Manchester City’s upcoming league fixture against West Ham United as well as their next FA Cup match, scheduled for the quarter-final weekend of April 4–5.

Importantly for City, the punishment does not apply to the upcoming EFL Cup Final against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on March 22, meaning Guardiola will still be able to take his place on the touchline for that crucial showdown.

For Newcastle, meanwhile, attention will turn back to league matters as they look to bounce back from their FA Cup disappointment while the debate surrounding the pre-match scenes continues among supporters.