The Football Association (FA) has charged Manchester City with failing to control their players during the Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The charge stems from an incident late in the game where several City players surrounded referee Simon Hooper after he stopped play when Jack Grealish was through on goal for a foul on Erling Haaland in the build-up, despite initially waving play-on.
In a statement released on Monday, the FA said, “Manchester City have been charged with a breach of FA Rule E20.1 after their players surrounded the match official during the Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur. It’s alleged that, during the 94th minute of the fixture, the club failed to ensure their players do not behave in a way which is improper.”
City now have until Thursday to respond to the charge. The incident occurred in the dying minutes of the match and has drawn attention for the reaction of City’s players to the referee’s decision.
Following the 3-3 draw with Spurs, Manchester City slipped to third in the Premier League standings, three points behind leaders Arsenal. Their upcoming fixture sees them face Aston Villa on Wednesday. The charge adds an extra layer of scrutiny to City’s recent performances, highlighting the importance of maintaining player discipline on the field.
