Erling Haaland has delivered a damning verdict of a refereeing decision from Simon Hooper after Manchester City’s Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
Haaland posted “Wtf” on X in reaction to a video shared online that shows Hooper blowing up for a foul on the Norwegian after Jack Grealish has been released through on goal. Despite awarding the free-kick to City, Pep Guardiola’s men would have had a far greater advantage if play had been allowed to continue.
Emerson Royal had pushed up quickly and looked to hack down Haaland as the City striker turned just inside his own half. Royal was out of position at this point and Grealish looked like exploiting that when Haaland picked himself up and played the ball over the top of the high Spurs defensive line.
Haaland was booked for his immediate reaction as he angrily approached Hooper in retaliation to the decision. Tensions also threatened to boil over after the full-time whistle as Haaland again expressed his displeasure but Pep Guardiola came in to calm the tensions.
Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Roy Keane were both in agreement at the nature of the decision. Neither could understand the thinking by Hooper.
“(The decision) is really strange,” Neville said on commentary. “He’s played the advantage which is what is strange. He saw the pass and then blew. Pep Guardiola is sarcastically clapping.”
Meanwhile, Keane told Sky Sports: “It is a poor call, Jack is through on goal. He’s got that wrong, for some reason he’s blown the whistle. City will be critical of themselves for letting Spurs off the hook, don’t blame the referee for that one.”
The result leaves Man City three points off table-topping Arsenal (33 to 30) with a tough trip to Aston Villa coming up next. The Gunners face Luton Town and City’s opponents today, Spurs, take on West Ham United in a London derby.