MANCHESTER City striker Erling Haaland has criticised referee Simon Hooper on social media over a controversial decision late in Sunday’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Tottenham.
The Norway forward was incensed with Hooper after being denied the opportunity to play an advantage in the closing moments of a thrilling Premier League match at Etihad Stadium.
Haaland was one of several City players to remonstrate with the official and he continued his protests after the game by reposting a clip of the incident on X, formerly Twitter, with the comment “Wtf”, which is offensive slang.
The incident that angered City happened when Haaland was fouled in the fifth minute of stoppage time, managing to regain his footing to swivel and send Jack Grealish clear.
Hooper initially appeared to acknowledge the infringement and wave play on, but then blew his whistle to pull play back for a City free-kick.
The decision brought City protests, and criticism from pundits.
“I think it is an absolute shocker. I really do,” said Jermaine Jenas on the BBC’s Match of the Day 2.
“I’m not sure what Simon Hooper is thinking. It’s clearly a mistake but it is a monster of a mistake in my opinion.”
His fellow former England midfielder Leon Osman said: “It’s a huge mistake – there is no getting away from that with the technology we have but I have a slight bit of sympathy. He held his hands up straight away.
“But this one mistake is all that people will want to talk about.”
“The problem I have is that we’ve had so many situations where play is allowed to go on,” said former City defender Micah Richards on Sky Sports.
“If you’re in doubt, just leave the play to go on and you can always bring it back. That’s why City will feel aggrieved.”
While fellow pundit Jamie Carragher said the referee “just panicked”, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane added: “It’s a poor call.”