At the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City engaged in a thrilling Premier League match that ended in a 3-3 draw, with Dejan Kulusevski’s 90th-minute equalizer saving a point for Ange Postecoglou’s team.
Son Heung-min scored Spurs’ first goal of the game with a flawless counterattack, his ninth Premier League goal of the year. After that, the captain of Spurs put the ball in his own net, and Phil Foden gave the home team the lead.
With a well-executed goal in the 69th minute, Giovani Lo Celso leveled the score after City’s first half ended slowly. After scoring from close range, substitute Jack Grealish appeared to have given the champions all three points, but Kulusevski’s header from the back of the post put an end to Tottenham’s losing streak.
But the game’s result could have been very different. Referee Simon Hooper denied Grealish the chance to double his tally as City looked for a winner in injury time.
According to Football.london, Emerson Royal fouled Erling Haaland on the halfway line while the Brazilian was trying to stop City’s counterattack. As the clock was running out, Haaland continued to play, sending a ball over the top of Tottenham’s defense to allow Grealish to get through.
Frustrated, as was Haaland, the City players, Hooper, who had initially allowed the play to continue, pulled the play back to award a free-kick. After receiving a booking, the striker seemed to yell, “F*** off! F*** off!”
Why Hooper chose to resume play after Grealish had gone through on goal is unknown. Hooper did nothing improper in accordance with FA regulations.
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Nevertheless, according to FA regulations, advantage should only be withheld in situations involving flagrant foul play, aggressive behavior, or a second cautionable offense ‘unless there is a clear opportunity to score the goal’. The referee probably didn’t think Grealish had that much of a chance.
In his press conference following the game, Guardiola refrained from criticizing the referee due to the human error. “I will not do a Mikel Arteta comment,” he stated. Looking at the image again makes it difficult to explain. After saying “to play,” the referee chooses to sound the whistle.
“Erling’s response was the same as the other ten players.” Since it’s against the rules to speak with the fourth officials or referees, ten players ought to have been sent off.
“He feels a little let down. Even the referee would be upset about that action if he were a Man City player today.”
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