Jakarta –
Manchester City are charged by FA due to excessive protests at the end of the match when they were held to a 3-3 draw by Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. They were given three days to provide a defense.
“Manchester City was charged with violating FA Regulation article E20.1 after their players surrounded match officials when facing Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday 3 December 2023,” read an FA statement, Monday (4/12), quoted The Athletic.
“It is alleged that, in the 94th minute of the match, the club failed to ensure its players did not behave inappropriately.”
The protest began with a violation of Erling Haaland in the middle of the field when Man City was about to launch a counterattack. He fell, but immediately got up to deliver a through ball to Jack Grealish.
Initially referee Simon Hooper kept the incident quiet, as if to declare advantage for Man City, but within seconds he immediately blew the whistle to signal a violation, instantly making The Citizens furious. Because at that time Grealish was running freely at the front.
Manager Pep Guardiola also questioned Hooper who was slow in making decisions, but he emphasized that this was not the reason Man City failed to win the match. “We didn’t draw because of that incident,” he explained.
Man City has until December 7 to respond. However, reflecting on a similar violation they committed last February against Arsenal, it is very likely that they will be fined.
The charges handed down by the FA are only aimed at Man City collectively. There were no personal punishments for players, including Haaland, who reacted strongly in front of Hooper and then complained on social media after the match.
The draw saw Man City drop to third place in the standings with 30 points, overtaken by Liverpool who rose to second place with 31 points after beating Fulham 4-3. Meanwhile, Arsenal is at the top with 33 points, and Tottenham is in fifth place with 27 points.
(adp/mrp)
2023-12-04 19:00:00
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