City charged by FA for "improper" conduct against Spurs

Players reacted angrily to ref Simon Hooper's inexplicable decision not to play late advantage

City have been charged by the FA for the "improper" conduct of their players during the 3-3 draw with Spurs on Sunday.

The Blues were denied a possible goalscoring opportunity when referee Simon Hooper inexplicably blew his whistle, despite having previously played advantage as City chased a late winner.

A number of players remonstrated with the ref, and rling Haaland later criticised the decision on social media

The FA's statement read: “Manchester City have been charged with a breach of FA Rule E20.1 after their players surrounded the match official during the Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 3 December 2023.

“It’s alleged that, during the 94th minute of the fixture, the club failed to ensure their players do not behave in a way which is improper.”

Manager Pep Guardiola praised his players in today's pre-match press conference:

"We have behaved incredibly in these years, especially this season, how we behaved in our not-good results.

"The decisions sometimes are in favour, sometimes against [us], but we behaved even after the game.

"The comments from my players [were] about accepting we can do better - and me first. It's what I want to see of my club and my team.

"After that, we will accept all the decisions of the Premier League or whatever."