Wild 3:3 against Tottenham - Erling Haaland freaks out after bizarre referee decision
Erling Haaland and soccer referee Simon Hooper will probably no longer be friends. Because the Manchester City star striker got completely upset shortly before the end of the spectacular 3:3 against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening. Europe's footballer of the year was so upset and gesticulated so wildly that he was shown a yellow card. Haaland later commented on a video of the scene on X (formerly Twitter) with "wtf" - roughly translated as "what the hell".
The reason was a decision by Hooper in the fifth minute of stoppage time. City tried to counterattack, but Haaland was brought down by Emerson Royal. But the 23-year-old Norwegian immediately jumped back to his feet and the referee made a very clear decision - visible to everyone in the stadium - to give the advantage and allow play to continue.
Haaland played a dream pass to his team-mate Jack Grealish, who was free to head towards goal. But suddenly the whistle blew: Hooper had changed his mind, interrupted play and awarded City a free-kick.
Wie kann man das nur abpfeifen?🤯😳
↪️ Beim Stand von 3:3 kurz vor Abpfiff wird der Vorteil nicht laufen gelassen - Man City rastet aus!🚨#skypl #motw #mcitot pic.twitter.com/6Xvu8Ps2by
— Sky Sport (@SkySportDE) December 3, 2023
Erling Haaland's outburst becomes an internet meme
In addition to Haaland, other players complained loudly to the referee. On Monday, the association charged City with inappropriate behavior by its players. Coach Pep Guardiola (52), who was also unable to grasp the controversial decision, avoided subsequent criticism: "I sometimes lose my mind on the touchline, my gesture wasn't right. People can always make mistakes. We didn't draw because of that late decision," said the Spaniard.
Guardiola defended his exceptional striker, saying it was normal and that "his reaction was the same as the other ten players". "He is a bit disappointed," Guardiola added, adding: "Even the referee - if he had been playing for Manchester City today - would have been disappointed with that action, that's for sure."
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Erling Haaland's frustration after the controversial decision against Tottenham Hotspur didn't stop at the pitch. His reaction, which included using the phrase "wtf" on Twitter, sparked a wave of memes online.
In the aftermath of the incident, Haaland's performance in the Premier League hadn't gone unnoticed. He was named 'Footballer of the Year' in several European soccer publications, with Manchester City's opponents recognizing his skill and impact.
Despite the challenging referee call, Haaland managed to maintain his form in the Premier League, scoring multiple goals for Manchester City. His impressive performances helped the team secure top spots in the league, with their eyes set on winning the title.
In European football, Haaland was compared to legendary strikers, with many believing that he could potentially break several records, given his current scoring streak and relentless approach to soccer.
Source: www.stern.de
