Pep Guardiola takes a dig at Mikel Arteta amidst controversy
The City-Spurs game finished in a 3-3 tie.
When questioned about the contentious finale to Manchester City‘s game against Tottenham, Pep Guardiola made a subtle dig at his former right-hand man Mikel Arteta. He refused to comment on the referee’s error.
The previous meeting between Manchester City and Tottenham ended in a thrilling 3-3 tie with much controversy. Referee Simon Hooper gave advantage at first but subsequently altered his decision to a free-kick, infuriating City players who believed Jack Grealish had a golden goal opportunity. This resulted in Erling Haaland approaching Hooper, emphasizing the game’s tremendous emotions.
When questioned about the situation after the game, Pep Guardiola expertly avoided making direct comments. This move appeared to be a covert reaction to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s previous criticism of English referees. After a controversial 1-0 loss to Newcastle, Arteta used harsh terms such as ‘disgraceful’ and ’embarrassing’.
“Next question. I will not do a Mikel Arteta comment. It is hard when you review the image, the referee decides to blow the whistle after he has already said to play on. Sometimes I lose my mind about the referees, but here no. People can make mistakes always.”
Erling Haaland may face FA charges after his outburst on referee
The English Football Association may prosecute Norwegian striker Erling Haaland for yelling at referee Simon Hooper for an error that harmed their hopes of beating Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium.
The hosts were extremely agitated after the match referees made an incorrect call. After a feed from Haaland, Jack Grealish had a wonderful chance to score the game-winning goal.
However, Harper stopped play for a free kick, prompting Haaland to approach the referee and receive a yellow card. Later, he argued with Tottenham player Giovani Lo Celso and vented his rage on social media with the hashtag ‘WTF.’ There’s a good probability Haaland will suffer repercussions for his outburst. Furthermore, Haaland squandered a great open-goal opportunity.
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