Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Carabao Cup Semi Final First Leg match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James' Park on January 13, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Carabao Cup Semi Final First Leg match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James' Park on January 13, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Eddie Howe highlighted the rule following Newcastle United’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Semenyo joined from AFC Bournemouth last Friday for £64million and scored on his debut in Man City’s 10-1 FA Cup third round win over League One side Exeter City on Saturday.
A few days later and the 26-year-old continued his 100% start to give Pep Guardiola’s side the lead at St James’ Park. Rayan Cherki then added a second goal in stoppage time, giving the Magpies a mountain to climb in the second-leg on February 4.
Newcastle United rue Carabao Cup rule change
In past seasons, Semenyo would have been cup-tied after featuring for Bournemouth in their Carabao Cup second round defeat to Brentford.
It’s a rule that stopped Newcastle from playing both Martin Dubravka and Anthony Gordon in the 2023 Carabao Cup final against Manchester United after they had represented Everton and Manchester United in the earlier rounds.
However, ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, those rules were amended. Under EFL rule 6.4, players are able to represent two clubs in the competition in a season.
But that’s not the rule Eddie Howe is frustrated at
However, that isn’t the rule that Eddie Howe directed his frustration at after the game.
Instead, the Newcastle head coach highlighted the fact that his side were down to 10 men when Semenyo scored after rules forced Jacob Ramsey to leave the field after he received on-field treatment following a blow to the head.
“I don't think bitter is the right word, I think the rules are the rules,” Howe said when asked about Semenyo’s eligibility. “They're there, I don't think I can focus on that too much.
“I'd probably like to focus more on the fact we had 10 men when they scored their first goal because I just don't get that rule. JJ's gone down with a head injury after elbowed in the head and we get punished for that. I don't see how that's right.”
Eddie Howe reacts to Newcastle United’s defeat to Man City
On the game, Howe said: “Yeah, I mean it does because when that's that early chance in the game, which probably changes the whole mood and atmosphere of the stadium in that moment.
“There were several half chances for us in that first half, Jacob Murphy was a real threat on the right-hand side, and we were giving them issues and problems down that side of the pitch. And then of course, James Trafford makes a great save from Yoane again, and then Bruno hits the post, so it's, I think that's any game in football, the swings of the game are so delicate in points all the time.
“I think our challenge is to try and stay on the right side of them. I thought we were in danger of 300 per cent plays today, we didn't quite get the goal, but I think some of the deliveries in the box deserved them”
Continue Reading