Many Arsenal fans took to social media to express their frustration after Leandro Trossard received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away during their 2-2 draw against Manchester City, while Jeremy Doku of City was not punished for a similar action.
The incident left supporters questioning why Doku was not booked, while Trossard was sent off, leading to intense debate among fans.
During the first half, Doku was seen nudging the ball away as Arsenal prepared to take a free kick.
Despite this, he avoided a booking, which caused many Arsenal fans to criticize the inconsistency in refereeing decisions.
The question arose: why was Doku let off the hook, while Trossard faced harsher punishment?
Upon closer examination of the situation, the reason behind referee Michael Oliver’s decision becomes more apparent.
Oliver took a moment to explain his decision on the field, pointing to where the ball had ended up after Doku’s action.
His explanation was that Doku was simply returning the ball to the spot where the foul occurred, not wasting time.
In this context, Doku’s action actually helped move the game along more quickly, and thus was not seen as an attempt to disrupt play.
Trossard’s case, however, was different. He kicked the ball away intentionally, well after the whistle had been blown, as Manchester City were awarded a free kick.
His action was a clear attempt to waste time, which forced referee Oliver to issue a second yellow card for unsporting behavior.
This led to his sending off just before halftime, putting Arsenal at a disadvantage for the remainder of the match.
The contrast between the two situations comes down to the intent behind the actions.
While Doku was seen as aiding the flow of the game by returning the ball to its proper position, Trossard’s deliberate act of kicking the ball far away was viewed as a blatant effort to delay play.
This difference in intent is what ultimately influenced the referee’s decisions.
Though Arsenal fans remain upset over the perceived inconsistency, Oliver’s decision is rooted in how he interpreted the actions of both players.
Doku’s action was seen as a minor disruption that did not warrant a booking, while Trossard’s clear time-wasting left the referee with no choice but to send him off.
Despite the controversy, Manchester City and Arsenal played out a thrilling 2-2 draw, but the incident involving Trossard’s red card became a major talking point among fans, who continue to debate the fairness of the refereeing decisions.
