Manchester City striker Erling Haaland could repeatedly be charged by the Football Association for a social media post criticising referee Simon Hooper following Sunday's 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Dejan Kulusevski salvaged a point for Spurs with a 90th-minute equaliser in a thrilling contest at the Etihad Stadium, but on-field referee Hooper controversially denied the Citizens the opportunity to score a stoppage-time winner.
Hooper initially acknowledged that Haaland had been fouled by Emerson Royal inside City's half and signalled to play advantage as the Norwegian regained his footing.
However, Hooper bizarrely blew his whistle to pull play back for a Man City free kick as Haaland sent Jack Grealish through on Tottenham's goal.
The decision sparked an angry reaction from several Citizens players including Haaland, who remonstrated in the face of Hooper, and was subsequently shown a yellow card, before continuing his protest after the full-time whistle.
© Reuters
Former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher has since admitted that Hooper made an "error" by blowing his whistle at that moment, but has insisted that the referee has not by law made the wrong decision.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Gallagher said: "Difficult because [Hooper] is a lad who I'd say plays advantage more than anybody. He quite rightly plays on and for whatever reason Simon then blows up.
"If he'd have waited a second later the whole landscape changes. Unfortunately it is an error that he has made. Technically, by law he hasn't done anything wrong. It is the ref's choice to play advantage, not anybody else."
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou also admitted after the match that his side had "got away with one" following Hooper's decision.
In response to the late drama, Haaland took to social media to vent his frustration, posting a video of the controversial incident on 'X' along with the offensive slang caption "Wtf".
However, according to ESPN, Man City's No.9 is now at risk of an FA charge if he is deemed to have breached Rule E3.1 which relates to social media comments or remarks made in the media.
— Erling Haaland (@ErlingHaaland) December 3, 2023
Last month, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was charged by the FA after labelling the decision to award Anthony Gordon's goal in a 1-0 win for Newcastle United against the Gunners as "embarrassing" and an "absolute disgrace" in a post-game rant.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola, who decided against making "a Mikel Arteta comment" on the late drama versus Spurs, has defended Haaland's angry antics at full time, telling reporters: "It's normal. His reaction was the same for 10 players.
"The rules are you cannot talk with the referees or fourth officials, so we should have had 10 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.
"I make mistakes, players make mistakes. When Erling goes down, the ref said play on and after making the pass, he stopped the game.
"I don't want to criticise him. Sometimes on the touchline I lose my mind, my gestures are not proper, but we didn't draw for that. Spurs are happy with a point, we are a little less happy."
Man City will hope that Haaland avoids a suspension as they are already having to cope without both Rodri and Grealish for next Wednesday's trip to Aston Villa, as both players picked up their fifth yellow cards of the season in the draw with Spurs and will subsequently serve a one-match ban.
Oliver Thomas
