Manchester City is facing charges from the Football Association (FA) in the aftermath of a contentious confrontation with referee Simon Hooper during their 3-3 draw against Tottenham on Sunday.
The reigning Premier League champions are specifically charged with failing to control their players, as a heated exchange followed Hooper’s decision not to allow City an advantage in the dying minutes of the game.
Erling Haaland, the main protagonist in the confrontation, will not face personal charges for his actions or a tweet posted after the match. The controversial incident occurred in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time when Hooper initially appeared to permit City to take advantage after Yves Bissouma fouled Haaland.
However, Hooper later blew the whistle, signaling a return to the foul decision and nullifying Jack Grealish’s chance on goal. Haaland and several other City players confronted the referee, with the Norwegian expressing his displeasure both on the field and through a social media post.
Manchester City has been charged under FA Rule E20.1, which stipulates that clubs must ensure their players do not engage in improper, offensive, violent, threatening, abusive, indecent, insulting, or provocative behavior.
The club has until Thursday to contest the charge. Notably, Haaland escaped charges related to his social media post, as it was deemed not to fall within criteria implying bias or attacking the official’s integrity.
This development comes amid growing concerns about the treatment of referees in football, prompting discussions about implementing stricter measures against players and coaches showing dissent. Last week, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) proposed expanding the use of sin-bins for dissent and emphasized the need for a more rigorous application of the Laws of the Game against disrespectful conduct and mass confrontations.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time Manchester City has faced disciplinary action for failing to control their players. In February, the club was fined £75,000 by an independent panel for a similar offense during a Premier League match against Arsenal.
Source: AFP
