Many Arsenal supporters have been vocal on social media following Leandro Trossard’s second yellow card for kicking the ball away, while Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku faced no such reprimand.
During the first half, Doku was seen nudging the ball away as Arsenal was preparing for a free kick but did not receive a card. This raises the question: why did Doku avoid a yellow card in the 2-2 match against Arsenal, unlike Trossard?
The explanation is clear to those who witnessed the situation unfold. As Arsenal players and fans protested after Doku’s action, referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot where the ball ended up, indicating it was in the correct position. Doku was merely returning the ball to its rightful place rather than intentionally delaying the game, effectively aiding the restart. In contrast, Trossard kicked the ball far away from the spot where Manchester City had been awarded a free kick, several seconds after the whistle, leaving Oliver with no choice but to show Trossard a red card just before halftime.
