Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has expressed his disbelief that Erling Haaland escaped punishment following Manchester City’s intense 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
The match, filled with drama on and off the field, ended with a late equalizer by John Stones, securing a point for City.
However, it was Haaland’s controversial behavior during the game that sparked heated debates.
Arsenal led 2-1 at halftime despite being down to 10 men after Leandro Trossard received a red card.
In the second half, Manchester City aggressively pushed for an equalizer, leading to rising tensions.
Haaland, who had earlier scored his 100th goal for the club, was involved in a contentious moment when he threw the ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães during City’s celebrations after Stones’ goal.
This incident, among others, fueled post-match altercations involving Haaland.
Despite Haaland’s actions, it has been confirmed that the Football Association (FA) will not take any retrospective action against the striker.
Mark Halsey, however, believes Haaland’s behavior could have warranted a ban, comparing his action to violent conduct.
In an interview with The Sun, Halsey said, “You could argue it’s violent conduct because it’s like throwing an object at someone’s head. It’s similar to throwing a punch.
It’ll be interesting to see if the FA reconsiders because this could easily be interpreted as violent conduct.”
The controversy didn’t end there. After the match, new footage emerged showing Haaland mocking Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta by telling him to “Stay humble.”
This comment triggered an angry response from Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus, leading to a verbal confrontation between the two players.
Jesus confronted Haaland, and the City striker responded furiously, calling him a “f****** clown” and demanding, “Get the f*** away.”
The heated exchange added to the intensity of an already dramatic encounter.
Haaland’s actions have divided opinions. While Halsey feels the striker should have faced greater scrutiny, others have defended him.
Premier League legend Alan Shearer downplayed the incident, calling it “harmless” during his commentary on Match of the Day 2.
Shearer noted, “It was a difficult game for the referee, but in terms of aggression and one-on-one battles, it was a fascinating match.”
Despite the uproar surrounding the game, Haaland has avoided any official punishment.
However, the debate over his conduct continues, with many questioning whether his actions crossed a line.
As the Premier League title race intensifies, the bitter rivalry between Manchester City and Arsenal, and the controversies stemming from this match, will be remembered for both the on-field action and the post-match confrontations.
