Man City has been charged by the Football Association for failing to ensure their players behaved in a proper manner during added time in Premier League match vs Tottenham.
An FA statement read: “Manchester City have been charged with a breach of FA Rule E20.1 after their players surrounded the match official during the Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 3 December 2023.
“It’s alleged that, during the 94th minute of the fixture, the club failed to ensure their players do not behave in a way which is improper.”
The incident in question stems from Simon Hooper’s decision to blow the whistle for a City free-kick despite the fact that Jack Grealish was through on goal. Erling Haaland, who played the pass, was left furious and screamed in the face of Hooper while other City players surrounded him.
City’s talismanic striker actually took to social media after the game to further hammer home just how annoyed he was with the call. The reigning Premier League champions have until December 7 to respond to the charge.
Come full-time, City boss Pep Guardiola was reluctant to get drawn in to criticising the referee too much. He would respond, “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. After the pass, the whistle, so I do not understand this action”.
He added: “I don’t want to criticise 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.”
City were held to a 3-3 draw against Spurs, despite taking the lead twice at the Etihad. Dejan Kulusevski’s 90th minute header ensured City missed the chance to make ground on league leaders Arsenal.
As a result, Guardiola’s men actually now sit third, three points off of top spot and one point behind second-placed Liverpool. While those at the top of the Etihad hierarchy mull over whether to appeal the charge, the players’ focus must be on Wednesday night.