ERLING HAALAND could be hit with an FA charge after criticising the performance of the match officials during Manchester City’s 3-3 draw with Tottenham on Sunday.
Haaland was absolutely raging after ref Simon Hooper denied City the chance of a 94th-minute winner.
Hooper played an advantage as Haaland was fouled but inexplicably blew up when the Norwegian’s pass sent Jack Grealish through on Tottenham’s goal.
Haaland let rip and later posted a clip of the incident on X, saying: “WTF”, an abbreviation for ‘What the f***’ which could land him in hot water with the FA.
Haaland blew his top at ref Hooper and, before storming down the Etihad tunnel, he fired an F-word rant at Gio Lo Celso after the Spurs scorer barged into him at full-time.
But Pep Guardiola, whose team conceded a 90th-minute leveller, bit his tongue and said: “Next question. I will not do a Mikel Arteta comment.”
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Guardiola’s old assistant has been charged by the FA for branding VAR “embarrassing” and a “disgrace” after Arsenal lost 1-0 to Newcastle last month.
City’s boss added: “On the touchline sometimes I lose my mind and my gestures aren’t proper. But here normally for many years as a manager I’m not a guy to comment.
“It surprised me because when Erling went down, if you whistle in that moment it’s fine.
“But he stands up and continues and the referee in that moment makes that gesture to ‘play on, play on’.
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“And after Erling makes the pass he then stops the game.”
Asked about Haaland’s angry reaction, he said: “It’s normal and it’s the same for ten players.
“The rules are you cannot talk with the referees or fourth officials so we should have had ten players sent off today.
“He’s a little bit disappointed. Even the referee — if he played for Man City today he would be disappointed for that action, that’s for sure.”
City could also be in trouble with the FA over their players surrounding the ref.
They will be without Rodri and Grealish for Wednesday’s trip to in-form Aston Villa as both reached five bookings yesterday, while Jeremy Doku limped off.
Earlier this season, Virgil Van Dijk received an additional one match ban from the FA for abusing officials after he was sent off against Newcastle.
Van Dijk labelled the decision a “f***ing joke” to John Brooks on the field and continued his ire as he marched down the tunnel.
Van Dijk was also slapped with a £100,000 fine for his comments.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was asked if his team had got away with one after Hooper blew the whistle prematurely with Grealish on the counter.
He smiled and said: “Yeah, I guess so, mate.”
Yet he was thrilled by the performance of his players, who twice fought from behind to claim a point through Dejan Kulusevski’s dramatic header.
He said: “First half we were lucky to still be in it, City could have blown us away.
“But we hung in there — we had to calm down and the effort second half was outstanding.
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“A day like this will give us character and belief.”
Guardiola said: “It was a good game, everyone enjoyed it. Spurs are so happy, we are less so.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
