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Steve Nicol wonders if Manchester City’s 2-1 comeback opposed Luton’s preference for a fourth successive Premier League title. (1:54)
PGMOL chief Howard Webb said the referee in Manchester City’s 3-3 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Dec. 3 made a mistake in allowing play to continue after a foul on Erling Haaland.
With the game in stoppage time, City’s Jack Grealish had purposely scored when referee Simon Hooper called a foul on Haaland in pre-season, having indicated in the past to continue play.
Several City players surrounded the referee over his decision to halt play and the club were later charged by the FA over their conduct.
“yes, it’s an umpiring error,” Webb said on the TV show “Match Officials: Mic’d Up. “
“On this specific occasion, [the referee] sees a strong and reckless foul by Emerson Royal on Haaland. He’s in midfield and the ball comes back.
“He’s doing the hard work, he’s just hesitating for a moment to see if merit is possible. But he recognizes in his mind, when he thinks about it, that it’s a big challenge, it’s reckless, he’s going to have to do it. “Be careful. “
Webb said Hooper was “devastated” by the mistake.
“It’s not as easy to see things happening at ground level as it is from above,” he added.