In the 14th round of the Premier League in the early morning of December 4, Beijing time, Manchester City drew 3-3 with Tottenham, but a controversial decision in the final moments of the game made this supposed wonderful matchup no longer harmonious.
In stoppage time, the City player had a one-on-one chance to score the ball, but referee Simon Hooper stopped the game and thought the goal was offside instantly. The blow caused a lot of displeasure among City's players, especially Erling Haaland, who roared on the pitch and questioned the referee's decision. After the game, excited Manchester City players gathered around the referee to ask for an explanation.
In a subsequent interview, Pep Guardiola said it was understandable that the players' actions were an instinctive reaction of one person. He also said that if the Premier League wants to fine a club, then it will be fine, and that is okay. The players are not wrong and should not apologize.
The incident also sparked a wide discussion about the referee's penalty criteria and the rules of the football game. Although there will be some controversial decisions in the game, we should still respect the authority of the referee, and at the same time, we hope that the rules of the football game can be improved to reduce similar disputes.