Amid Possible Charges by FA, Erling Haaland Defended by Pep Guardiola Over His Foul-Mouth Rant at Referee Simon Hooper Against Tottenham Hotspur

In the aftermath of Manchester City’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Tottenham Hotspur, the focus has taken an unexpected turn toward Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker not only fell short on the scoresheet but also found himself at the center of controversy. Haaland’s foul-mouthed rant directed at referee Simon Hooper during the match has raised the possibility of charges by the FA.

But in staunch defense of his player, Pep Guardiola asserts, ‘his frustration is for the last action, not for the game.’ After this six-goal thriller, City slipped to third and have a three-point gap with leaders Arsenal and a point behind Liverpool. Here’s the whole story. 

Erling Haaland gets backed by Pep Guardiola 

After the match, Erling Haaland expressed his frustration towards referee Simon Hooper following the controversial decision to reject the advantage when the City striker had successfully played Jack Grealish through during stoppage time. Haaland fired up his X account as he wrote, “What the f***” while reposting the video of that moment. While it has brought the No. 9 into scrutiny, his boss, Pep Guardiola, has offered his views. 

In the post-match interview, the Spanish tactician said, “He is a fantastic player. His frustration is for the last action, not for the game. The game had the chances and sometimes win, it doesn’t matter so it’s football.” While acknowledging the support of fans, Guardiola pledged to improve better for the next game. “This is a business of results and we didn’t get it then, today, neither, but okay. We continue do to so until next Wednesday. We have another one and go for it,” he concluded. 

Additionally, following the match, Haaland was observed forcefully colliding with Spurs player Giovani Lo Celso, prompting Guardiola to quickly intervene and prevent the situation from escalating any further. However, trouble still lingers for Haaland, as he might be soon charged by the FA. 

Haaland is on the brink of facing charges 

Haaland has invited trouble to his doorstep after his vocal response to Hooper’s call in the final moments of the game on social media. While the tweet was deleted by the forward, the FA managed to see it. England’s association will be pressing charges against Haaland, and the striker may be penalized, taking instance from the likes of Mikel Arteta during Arsenal’s 1-0 win against Newcastle United. 

READ MORE: 3X PL Winner Reveals Why Manchester United Failed Signing Erling Haaland Despite a 75% Chance of Fruition – “They Didn’t Want to Pay Over the Odds”

Additionally, the new rule that safeguards referees from facing abuse by players or coaches makes it evident that Haaland is in trouble. What transpires, only time will tell. But keep an eye out on this space for more such updates. 

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