Pep Guardiola gives verdict on Erling Haaland reaction to controversial decision in Man City 3-3 Tottenham

Pep Guardiola has described Erling Haaland’s reaction to Simon Hooper’s controversial referee decision on Sunday as ‘normal’.

Manchester City’s players were furious as Hooper prevented Jack Grealish from having a one-on-one chance against Guglielmo Vicario in injury-time of the 3-3 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.

The incident occurred as Erling Haaland was fouled by Emerson Royal around the centre circle, but the striker immediately got back to his feet and played the through ball for Grealish to latch onto. Hooper had initially indicated that play could continue before blowing his whistle and ordering a free-kick to be taken instead.

City were furious the advantage wasn’t allowed to stand, with their players surrounding the referee after the decision was made, while Haaland reposted a video of the incident on X, with the caption ‘wtf’.

Asked for his verdict on Haaland’s reaction, Guardiola said: “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.”

Despite that, Guardiola refused to be too critical of the official after the game. “It's an action. The game was really good from both sides, we played fantastic in the first half and the second half they made a step forward for ball possession. In everything, we were really good, I would say in the first half much better, we could have scored more.

“Yeah it’s football, we have to manage better, in that action it’s football. I make mistakes, the players make mistakes. It surprised me because in the moment Erling went down for the action from Davies if you whistle in that moment it’s fine.

“But when he stands up and continues and the referee in that moment makes that gesture to play on and after he [Haaland] makes the pass he then stops the game. I don't want to criticise him.

“On the touchline sometimes I lose my mind and my gestures are not proper but here normally for many years as a manager I'm not a guy when I'm refreshed to comment. But I would say we didn't draw for that.”