Why Jack Grealish was not allowed to play on and score for Man City vs Tottenham

Tottenham news as Manchester City attacker Jack Grealish was denied the chance to potentially win the game following a controversial call by referee Simon Hooper

At the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City engaged in a thrilling Premier League match that ended in a 3-3 draw, with Dejan Kulusevski’s 90th-minute equalizer saving a point for Ange Postecoglou’s team.

Son Heung-min scored Spurs’ first goal of the game with a flawless counterattack, his ninth Premier League goal of the year. After that, the captain of Spurs put the ball in his own net, and Phil Foden gave the home team the lead.

With a well-executed goal in the 69th minute, Giovani Lo Celso leveled the score after City’s first half ended hesitantly. After scoring from close range, substitute Jack Grealish appeared to have given the champions all three points, but Kulusevski’s header from the back of the post put an end to Tottenham’s losing skid.

But the game’s result may have been very different. Referee Simon Hooper denied Grealish the chance to extend his score as City looked for a winner in injury time.

As the Brazilian tried to stop City’s counterattack, Emerson Royal fouled Erling Haaland on the halfway line. With the time running down, Haaland continued to play and found Grealish by playing a pass over the top of Tottenham’s defense.

The action was hauled back to give a free-kick, upsetting both Haaland and the City players. Hooper had initially allowed the play to continue. The forward appeared to yell, “F*** off! F*** off!” before being detained.

Why Hooper chose to resume play after Grealish had gone through on goal is unknown. Hooper did nothing improper in accordance with FA regulations.

Nevertheless, according to FA regulations, advantage should only be withheld in situations involving flagrant foul play, aggressive behavior, or a second cautionable offense ‘unless there is a clear opportunity to score the goal’. The referee probably didn’t think Grealish had that much of a chance.

After the human error, Guardiola refused to criticise the referee in his post-match press conference. “I will not do a Mikel Arteta comment,” he said. “It is hard (to explain) when you review the image. The referee decides to blow the whistle after he has already said to play.”

He added: “Erling’s reaction was the same as the other ten players. The rules are you cannot talk with the referees or fourth officials so we should have had ten players sent off.

“He feels a little let down. Even the referee would be upset about such move if he were a Man City player today.”