Manchester City are facing repercussions following their 3-3 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on December 3, 2023, with the club receiving a significant fine for the players' heated reactions towards the referee, Simon Hooper.
During the game, a moment arose in the 94th minute when Jack Grealish was through on goal after a foul, but the referee had blown the whistle early, prompting the City players, including Erling Haaland, to surround Hooper in protest.
The incident saw Haaland lose his temper. After being knocked over by Emerson Royal and witnessing the referee halt play, denying the potential advantage for his team, Haaland's frustration escalated.
He sprinted toward Hooper, expressing his displeasure, and later engaged in a confrontation with Tottenham players at the game's conclusion, vocally expressing his anger.
Haaland's outburst extended beyond the pitch as he took to social media to share his discontent with a video of him confronting Simon Hooper and accompanied by a strong caption of “WTF”.
Alongside Haaland, other City players such as Ruben Dias, Mateo Kovacic, and Ederson also confronted the referee, reflecting the team's collective displeasure.
While Haaland escaped direct punishment for his behavior, Manchester City didn't evade consequences, receiving a £120,000 fine from the FA.
The club admitted their failure in ensuring their players' proper conduct during the heated 94th-minute incident.
In response to queries about the referee's performance, Pep Guardiola declined to comment, refraining from criticizing the officials.
He said, "I don't want to criticize them [the referees]. Sometimes on the touchline, I lose my mind, but here I don't like to comment. We didn't draw because of that..."
However, some City players, including Bernardo Silva, openly criticized the referee's decision, acknowledging the impact it had on the game's outcome.
Bernardo Silva: "It's a bad decision [from Simon Hooper], and everyone saw it.
“At the end, we're all humans. The referee probably is the first one to know that it was a very, very bad decision because he's one one-on-one with the keeper and he could have given us the three points..."
He further said: "It's a tough one to take, but at the end it is what it is. It's football and sometimes people make mistakes.
“Of course, it's difficult to accept them because we could have won the game and it wasn't because of us, it was because of an external decision..."
Guardiola defended Haaland, attributing the player's post-match reaction to his disappointment with the officiating.
Despite this incident, Manchester City continue their campaign, currently participating in the FIFA Club World Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
They face Asian champions Urawa Red, eyeing a spot in the final against Brazilian powerhouse Fluminense.
The team's morale is boosted by the return of captain Kevin De Bruyne, spotted training with the squad, as they aim to secure the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time in the club's history, seeking to complete their trophy cabinet.
Currently, City holds the third position in the Premier League, trailing league leaders Arsenal by five points.
During the game, a moment arose in the 94th minute when Jack Grealish was through on goal after a foul, but the referee had blown the whistle early, prompting the City players, including Erling Haaland, to surround Hooper in protest.
The incident saw Haaland lose his temper. After being knocked over by Emerson Royal and witnessing the referee halt play, denying the potential advantage for his team, Haaland's frustration escalated.
He sprinted toward Hooper, expressing his displeasure, and later engaged in a confrontation with Tottenham players at the game's conclusion, vocally expressing his anger.
Haaland's outburst extended beyond the pitch as he took to social media to share his discontent with a video of him confronting Simon Hooper and accompanied by a strong caption of “WTF”.
Alongside Haaland, other City players such as Ruben Dias, Mateo Kovacic, and Ederson also confronted the referee, reflecting the team's collective displeasure.
While Haaland escaped direct punishment for his behavior, Manchester City didn't evade consequences, receiving a £120,000 fine from the FA.
The club admitted their failure in ensuring their players' proper conduct during the heated 94th-minute incident.
In response to queries about the referee's performance, Pep Guardiola declined to comment, refraining from criticizing the officials.
He said, "I don't want to criticize them [the referees]. Sometimes on the touchline, I lose my mind, but here I don't like to comment. We didn't draw because of that..."
However, some City players, including Bernardo Silva, openly criticized the referee's decision, acknowledging the impact it had on the game's outcome.
Bernardo Silva: "It's a bad decision [from Simon Hooper], and everyone saw it.
“At the end, we're all humans. The referee probably is the first one to know that it was a very, very bad decision because he's one one-on-one with the keeper and he could have given us the three points..."
He further said: "It's a tough one to take, but at the end it is what it is. It's football and sometimes people make mistakes.
“Of course, it's difficult to accept them because we could have won the game and it wasn't because of us, it was because of an external decision..."
Guardiola defended Haaland, attributing the player's post-match reaction to his disappointment with the officiating.
Despite this incident, Manchester City continue their campaign, currently participating in the FIFA Club World Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
They face Asian champions Urawa Red, eyeing a spot in the final against Brazilian powerhouse Fluminense.
The team's morale is boosted by the return of captain Kevin De Bruyne, spotted training with the squad, as they aim to secure the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time in the club's history, seeking to complete their trophy cabinet.
Currently, City holds the third position in the Premier League, trailing league leaders Arsenal by five points.