Mark Halsey, a former Premier League referee, has voiced his surprise that Erling Haaland has not faced any retrospective punishment from the Football Association (FA) after the intense match between Manchester City and Arsenal. The game ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, with City equalizing late thanks to John Stones.
Arsenal led 2-1 at halftime despite being down to ten men following Leandro Trossard’s red card. In the second half, City pressed hard for a goal, and tensions rose as Haaland became embroiled in controversy. The Norwegian striker, who had just scored his 100th goal for City, was seen throwing the ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães’ head during the celebrations of Stones’ late equalizer, leading to confrontations involving Haaland both before and after the match ended.
Despite Haaland’s actions, the FA has opted not to pursue any disciplinary measures against him. Halsey believes Haaland could have faced a suspension and wouldn’t have had a valid case for complaint had it been deemed violent conduct. He commented, “One could argue it’s violent conduct, akin to throwing an object at someone’s head. It’s similar to throwing a punch. It will be interesting to see if the FA reconsiders and takes retrospective action since it could certainly be viewed as violent conduct.”
Additionally, new footage surfaced showing Haaland taunting Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after the game. The City striker was heard saying, “Stay humble, eh, stay humble,” which led to a confrontation with Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus. Upset by Haaland’s remarks, Jesus confronted him, escalating into a heated exchange. Haaland, visibly frustrated, called Jesus a “f****** clown” and told him to “get the f*** away.”
Haaland’s behavior during and after the match has elicited varied responses. While some, including Halsey, argue his conduct deserves further examination, others have defended him. Former Premier League star Alan Shearer downplayed the incident as “harmless.” On Match of the Day 2, Shearer remarked, “I don’t think it was harmful. The game was challenging for the referee, but in terms of aggression and one-on-one battles, it was captivating.”
While Haaland has avoided formal punishment, the discussion over whether his actions were excessive lingers. As the Premier League title race intensifies, this contentious match will be remembered for both its on-field excitement and the post-match conflicts involving Haaland.
