Social Media call for Erling Haaland ban after City draw

In the aftermath of Manchester City‘s intense 3-3 draw against Tottenham Hotspur, striker Erling Haaland finds himself at the center of a heated debate.

The Norwegian player’s furious reaction towards referee Simon Hooper‘s decision in injury time has sparked controversy among fans and ignited calls for disciplinary action.

The incident occurred in the dying moments of the thrilling Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium. Haaland, after being fouled in stoppage time, managed to regain his footing and swiftly set up a promising opportunity for teammate Jack Grealish.

Hooper initially appeared to play advantage but eventually pulled play back for a Manchester City free-kick, much to Haaland’s frustration.

Following the match, Haaland took to social media, specifically X (Twitter), expressing his dismay by quote-tweeting a clip of the incident with the caption “Wtf,” a commonly used abbreviation reflecting his frustration.

This action from Haaland has stirred a significant reaction among fans on social media, with some calling for disciplinary measures citing past instances of player misconduct.

Comparisons were drawn to a previous case involving Virgil Van Dijk, who faced suspension and a hefty fine for improper conduct and using abusive language towards a match official during a game against Newcastle.

Voices from various fan bases expressed concern over the apparent use of offensive language by Haaland towards the referee, with some demanding similar consequences to those faced by Van Dijk for what they perceive as a similar offense.

One concerned supporter stated, “This is extremely offensive and abusive,” while another highlighted potential bias in decision-making, stating,

“Not saying he didn’t have a valid point, but you can’t do that. Van Dijk got a ban for similar, not banning Haaland would set another awful bias.”

Calls for parity in punishment were echoed, with a plea to the Football Association (FA) to uphold the same standards applied to Van Dijk’s case.

A fan stressed,

“Remember when the FA were hell-bent on making an example with Van Dijk? Surely the same punishment for Haaland now?”