The Premier League has reached a decision regarding potential disciplinary action against Manchester City’s Erling Haaland Escapes following an incident with Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes during their recent 2-2 draw. This incident unfolded shortly after John Stones scored a crucial equalizer in the 98th minute at the Etihad Stadium, securing a point for City.
Following Stones’ goal, Haaland Escapes picked up the ball from the net and threw it at the back of Gabriel’s head before catching it again. The situation escalated just moments later when Haaland Escapes collided with Arsenal’s Thomas Partey immediately after the match resumed, sparking a heated exchange between both teams.
Despite the commotion, the match referee, Michael Oliver, chose not to take action against Haaland Escapes at the time. Notably, the incident involving Gabriel was not flagged during the game, although the collision with Partey contributed to the on-field altercation. As a result, the Premier League decided to review the footage to determine whether any retrospective action was necessary.
Since Oliver did not witness the incident in real-time, the Premier League had the option to impose sanctions on Haaland Escapes, which could have ranged from a suspension to a formal warning. Typically, when an incident is spotted and dealt with during the match, no further review takes place. However, with this specific altercation going unnoticed, there was room for the Premier League to consider post-match punishment.
The Premier League has concluded its investigation into the altercation involving Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes during their 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium. The incident took place during the final moments of the match, which saw City rescue a point through John Stones’ dramatic 98th-minute equalizer. After this crucial goal, tensions ran high, leading to a moment of controversy involving Haaland and Gabriel.
Premier League Rules Out Action Against Haaland Escapes Despite VAR Review
As City celebrated the late equalizer, Haaland retrieved the ball from the back of the net, but instead of simply holding onto it, he threw the ball off the back of Gabriel’s head, catching it again almost immediately. This act sparked frustration among the Arsenal players, but the situation escalated further just seconds after the game resumed. Haaland collided heavily with Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, leading to a mass confrontation between the two teams. Players from both sides were involved in the heated exchange as emotions flared on the pitch.
According to Jack Gaughan of The Telegraph, after thoroughly examining the footage, officials concluded that Haaland Escapes actions did not meet the threshold for disciplinary measures. Therefore, the Norwegian forward will not face any suspension or other penalties.
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey weighed in on the situation, expressing surprise at Haaland Escapes good fortune in avoiding punishment. Speaking to The Sun, Halsey noted that Haaland Escapes could have been found guilty of violent conduct, comparing the act of throwing the ball at Gabriel’s head to a punch or other form of physical aggression. In his view, the striker was “very lucky” that both the referee and the VAR system failed to catch the incident, as it could have resulted in more serious consequences for the Manchester City star.
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