For a variety of reasons, it’s usually difficult to feel any sympathy for modern-day moneybags Manchester City.
However, it was impossible not to recognise the fury sparked among Pep Guardiola’s side during the closing moments of their raucous 3-3 Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
Erling Haaland was clipped by Emerson Royal inside the centre circle for a clear foul, but was able to regain his feet and play a ball over the top that sent Jack Grealish scurrying clear of the visiting defence with only goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to beat.
The game, though, was halted by the whistle of referee Simon Hooper, who had initially appeared to play a good advantage before bringing the play back to give a free-kick with Grealish looking favourite to score a late winner.
City were understandably furious. And with football a high-pressure game often played right on the edge, such a show of strong emotion should be allowed. Up to a point.
Haaland, in scenes reminiscent to Manchester United firebrand Roy Keane infamously getting in the face of official Andy D’Urso way back in January 2000, invaded the personal space of referee Hooper, screaming angrily in disgust at the decision. Given the imposing physical stature of the City striker, it made for an ugly sight and rightly resulted in a booking.
The Norwegian then stoked the flames further later on when he took to social media to again express his disgust with the message “wtf”. It’s unlikely the last word stood for ‘flip’ in this case
In truth, the decision to suspend Van Dijk further for his foul-mouthed assessment of referee John Brooks at St James’ Park was contentious, smacking very much of the authorities wanting to make an early-season statement in their ongoing desire for greater respect for officials, an initiative that, while entirely honourable and much-needed, greatly loses impact if it starts picking and choosing targets.
Regardless of profile and stature, there must be consistency. And there seems little difference in the reactions of Haaland and Van Dijk, no matter how rational they were. In fact, Haaland’s was perhaps worse. It certainly looked it.
Having come from behind to beat Fulham late on in similarly dramatic fashion, Liverpool will have been delighted that top-four rivals City and Tottenham both ended up dropping points, to go with the three spurned by Manchester United at Newcastle United the previous day.
But of particular intrigue now will be what happens with City’s main man. It will be a big test of whether the FA are serious about dealing with dissent towards officials – or just want to make an example of a chosen few.
