- Following a contentious call by referee Simon Hooper during Manchester City’s draw with Tottenham, the club has been charged with a failure to control their players. The incident involved a disputed foul on Jack Grealish, prompting Erling Haaland’s frustration, leading him to storm down the tunnel and express his discontent on social media.
The Football Association (FA) has asserted that Manchester City couldn’t manage their players’ reactions effectively, resulting in the charge. However, the FA has opted not to directly punish Erling Haaland. The aftermath of the draw saw Haaland’s critical social media post regarding the referees, but the FA chose not to penalize him for this expression.
The Etihad clash between City and Manchester United ended in a 3-3 draw, with controversy arising from referee Simon Hooper’s decision to halt a potential counterattack in the 94th minute. Despite initially signaling for play to continue after Haaland’s foul, Hooper later awarded a free kick, denying Grealish a goal-scoring opportunity. This decision led to a vehement protest from the entire City team.
In the aftermath, City manager Pep Guardiola refrained from directly criticizing Hooper, asserting that the official’s call didn’t determine the game’s outcome. However, Guardiola hinted that Hooper might regret his choice upon reflection.
In a subsequent development, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) made a decision regarding Simon Hooper’s future assignments. As of the latest appointments, Hooper will not face punishment for his late-game decision during the City-Tottenham match, where he initially signaled to play on but later awarded a free kick, generating frustration within the City team.
The ongoing saga highlights the intricacies of managing player reactions, with the FA focusing on club responsibility while PGMOL addresses referee assignments in the aftermath of contentious decisions.
