Following Manchester City’s 3-3 draw with Tottenham, Erling Haaland took to social media to express immediate frustration over a crucial refereeing error. The controversy unfolded in stoppage time when Jack Grealish had a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Referee Simon Hooper, after signaling advantage initially, brought play back for a foul on Haaland. Despite being clipped, Haaland managed to stay on his feet, releasing Grealish before Hooper blew the whistle, denying City a potential late winner.
Haaland’s tweet, a succinct “Wtf,” encapsulated the team’s discontent. Football analysts, including Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher, criticized Hooper’s decision, with suggestions of a mistake and panic. Former City defender Micah Richards acknowledged the referee’s overall good performance but questioned the decision to stop play after signaling an advantage.
City manager Pep Guardiola, in contrast to some predecessors, refrained from overtly criticizing the officials but expressed bewilderment at the turn of events. Despite an impressive performance and numerous chances created, City dropped points for the third consecutive Premier League game. The draw follows previous matches against Chelsea and Liverpool, leaving Guardiola’s team eager to reclaim their position at the top of the table.
