Manchester City: FA charges players for conduct against Spurs

Manchester City were charged by the Football Association on Monday 4 December 2023, over their players’ behaviour in the final moments of their 3-3 draw against Tottenham at the weekend.

Several City stars, including an irate Erling Haaland, surrounded referee Simon Hooper after he failed to play advantage in the closing moments of a thrilling Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

ALSO READ: Tottenham secures last-minute draw against Manchester City

MANCHESTER CITY STRIKER’S FOUL

Haaland was fouled but shrugged off the challenge from Emerson Royal to play Jack Grealish through on goal, only for Hooper to pull the play back to award the hosts a free-kick, having apparently already waved play on.

ALSO READ: Premier League sets record: $8.45bn TV deal

Haaland continued to voice his anger as he left the field after the final whistle, and he kept up his protests after the game by reposting a clip of the incident on X, formerly Twitter, with the comment “Wtf”, which is offensive slang.

ALSO READ: Liverpool set to challenge Manchester City’s dominance

MAN CITY’S COACH STATEMENT AFTER THE MATCH

Manager Pep Guardiola said he understood his forward’s anger. “He’s a little bit disappointed,” the City boss said after the game. “Even the referee — if he played for Man City today, he would be disappointed for that action, that’s for sure.”

On Monday, the FA issued a statement saying City had been charged. “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,” the governing body said in a statement.

ALSO READ: Manchester City is set to face Liverpool in a crucial summit meeting

“It’s alleged that, during the 94th minute of the fixture, the club failed to ensure their players did not behave in an improper way. “Manchester City have until Thursday, 7 December to respond to the charge”.