FA could charge Haaland for bashing ref after Spurs-City draw

Erling Haaland could be charged by the English Football Association for criticizing the performance of match officials after reacting to a controversial late decision by referee Simon Hooper in Manchester City's 3-3 draw against Tottenham with a message about X saying “Wtf”.

Dejan Kulusevski's 90th-minute header secured Spurs a point, but City were denied a chance to win the game five minutes into injury time when Hooper stopped play when Jack Grealish ran over a Haaland's through ball.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)

Haaland had been fouled by Spurs defender Emerson Royal inside the center circle, but regained his footing to pass to Grealish. Hooper had initially signaled he was playing the advantage, but then blew the whistle when Grealish looked ready to run clear of goal.

The decision sparked a furious reaction from Haaland, who was shown a yellow card by Hooper, but the Norwegian striker now faces an FA sanction for his post about rule E3.1, governing comments on social networks or comments made in the media.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been charged by the FA over comments about match officials following the Gunners' 1-0 defeat at Newcastle last month. ESPN has contacted the FA to ask if Haaland will also receive disciplinary action.

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said after the match that his team “got away with it” following Hooper's decision, and although City manager Pep Guardiola said the incident was not not the reason his team drew, he defended Haaland's angry reaction.

“It’s normal,” Guardiola said. “His reaction was the same for 10 players. The rules are you can't talk with the referees or the fourth officials, so we should have sent off 10 players today. He's a little disappointed.

“Even the referee – if he was playing for Man City today he would be disappointed with that action, that’s for sure.

“I make mistakes, players make mistakes. When Erling fell, the referee said to continue and after making the pass he stopped the play.

“I don't want to criticize him. Sometimes on the touchline I lose my mind, my gestures are not correct, but we didn't draw because of that. Spurs are happy with a point, we are a little less happy.”