FA Cup Drama: Semenyo Gesture Before Newcastle Match Sparks ‘Immediate Ban’ Demands
- Antoine Semenyo’s act of kindness ahead of Man City’s FA Cup fifth-round clash with Newcastle has unexpectedly sparked calls for a ban
- The Ghana international was spotted taking selfies and signing autographs for fans in the home section at St James' Park before kick-off
- Semenyo later came on as a second-half substitute as the Citizens secured victory and advanced to the next round of the competition
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Antoine Semenyo has unexpectedly found himself at the centre of an online storm following Manchester City’s FA Cup clash with Newcastle United on March 7, 2026.
The 26-year-old, who has started impressively since arriving from Bournemouth, attracted criticism after a video showed him signing autographs shortly before kick-off.
Source: Getty Images
The footage, shared on the official page of the FA Cup on X, quickly gathered more than one million views.
In the clip, the Black Stars forward was seen greeting supporters pitchside and signing shirts while warming up ahead of the game.
At first glance, the moment appeared harmless and even heartwarming.
However, the location of the interaction sparked anger among some Newcastle followers.
Why Semenyo’s gesture angered Newcastle supporters
Most stadiums place travelling supporters high in the stands, while the lower sections near the pitch are reserved for home fans.
On this occasion, City’s travelling group was seated in the upper tier, according to SportBIBLE.
That meant the people receiving autographs from Semenyo were either neutral spectators, City followers sitting among home supporters, or Newcastle fans themselves.
One person even presented a sky-blue City jersey for the Ghanaian attacker to sign.
See the video below:
The situation did not sit well with several Newcastle supporters online.
For some, the frustration went beyond the autograph moment itself.
Before his rise in the Premier League, Semenyo had played for Sunderland, the fierce rivals of Newcastle.
Reactions to Semenyo signing autographs at Newcastle
The two clubs contest the famous Tyne-Wear derby, a rivalry built on geography, civic pride and decades of intense competition between the cities of Newcastle and Sunderland.
Because of that history, even a small gesture can carry emotional weight for passionate fans. Several supporters voiced their anger on social media.
@thedudetalks80 demanded:
"Can we please ban every single one of these people from Newcastle? Where are they getting tickets from when I get none in the ballot?"
@PeartJordan added:
"Newcastle, ban everyone who is in this video."
@TheToonminator0 shared a similar view:
"Wow, ban these from coming to games, pathetic."
@crispsident slammed:
"What a disgrace. Why are there away fans in the home end? And yet normal fans can’t get a ticket?"
Source: Getty Images
Semenyo helps Man City in FA Cup
Despite the online debate, the match itself ended positively for Manchester City.
The visitors recovered from an early setback to secure a 3-1 victory and move into the next stage of the FA Cup.
Omar Marmoush delivered the decisive performance with two goals after Savinho had restored parity earlier in the contest.
Semenyo entered the game in the 73rd minute, replacing the Egyptian after he had completed his brace.
While the Ghanaian did not add his name to the scoresheet, he played his part in helping City see out the result and book their place in the sixth round of the competition.
Pep Guardiola faces 2-game ban
YEN.com.gh also reported that Pep Guardiola had received a two-match touchline ban after Manchester City had reached the sixth round of the FA Cup.
The Spanish manager was punished during City’s comeback win over Newcastle United in the knockout fixture, where Antoine Semenyo played a major role.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
