Following a heated moment in their 3-3 draw against Tottenham, Premier League champions Manchester City have been fined £120,000 ($150,000) for the misconduct of their players, including Erling Haaland, who surrounded the referee during the game.
The incident occurred during stoppage time on December 3 at Etihad Stadium when referee Simon Hooper chose not to play advantage after Haaland was brought down by Spurs’ Emerson Royal, halting a potential Man City attack.
The Football Association stated, “Haaland and teammates surrounded the ref because he failed to play advantage for a potential scoring chance.”
Video evidence showed Haaland visibly furious immediately after the whistle blew and continued to express his frustrations after the match.
Despite Haaland’s conduct, he did not face any additional punishment. However, Man City admitted fault for failing to control their players’ improper behavior.
The FA sanction came after an independent hearing and an imposed fine of £120,000 on the club.
Following the pivotal call, manager Pep Guardiola chose not to publicly criticize the referee after the match, despite City’s frustration. Nevertheless, the club’s conduct fell short of expectations.
City will now focus on defending their Premier League title amidst intense competition at the top of the table.