In the aftermath of Manchester City’s 3-3 draw with Tottenham, PGMOL chairman Howard Webb acknowledged that referee Simon Hooper made a crucial error by not awarding advantage in the closing moments of the match. The incident, which led to a Premier League complaint against City, involved Erling Haaland being fouled, then quickly setting up Jack Grealish for a potential goal.
Webb, discussing the matter on the ‘Premier League Mic’d Up’ review show, revealed that Hooper initially intended to play advantage but eventually called a foul after Grealish’s touch. The referee’s acknowledgment of the mistake was captured in the audio, where he immediately exclaimed, ‘no, sorry,’ after blowing the whistle.
The ensuing chaos saw Haaland confronting Hooper, surrounded by other City players. The club faced charges for failing to control their players, while Haaland escaped individual prosecution for sharing a video of the incident on social media with the caption: “Wtf.”
Webb admitted, “It is an officiating mistake,” clarifying that Hooper opted to caution Emerson Royal instead of playing advantage. Webb explained officials’ constant effort to positively impact the game by allowing play to continue seamlessly when possible. Hooper, known for identifying such instances, fell short in this particular situation.
Webb described Hooper as ‘devastated’ and highlighted that his raised arm, signaling no advantage, was unintentional. Despite Hooper’s readiness to play advantage, his timing was off, leading to City’s frustration. Webb empathized with City’s disappointment, recognizing the lost opportunity for a fantastic advantage.
In retrospect, Webb advised Hooper to express contrition in such situations, emphasizing the learning experience and hoping for improved decisions in the future. Webb acknowledged the difficulty of on-field assessments and the challenge of making split-second decisions, ultimately hoping that such errors wouldn’t be repeated.
