Ex-FIFA official reacts to Man City incident that left Pep Guardiola ‘fuming’
Man City should have been given a penalty over an incident that angered manager Pep Guardiola during their FA Cup win over Leyton Orient, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that Omar Marmoush was “wiped out” inside the opposition penalty area in the second half of that game.
Guardiola‘s side came from behind to avoid an upset against the League One outfit at Brisbane Road on Saturday (8 February).
While that win was eventually only by a 2-1 margin, there is a sense that this could have been an even bigger victory for Man City had one penalty call gone in a different direction.
Omar Marmoush ‘wiped out’ vs Leyton Orient in FA Cup
In a dramatic game, it had been Orient who had taken the lead thanks to a stunning goal from Jamie Donley, prompting comparisons between the Tottenham loanee and Harry Kane.
That was despite Man City claims that midfielder Nico Gonzalez had been fouled in the build-up to that opening goal.
The Premier League champions had equalised after half-time, when Rico Lewis‘ shot deflected off one of Man City’s big-money January signings, Abdukodir Khusanov and into the back of the net.
Little more than five minutes after they had found that equaliser, the visitors felt they ought to have been awarded a penalty.
As the ball fell to Omar Marmoush – another January addition – inside the Orient penalty area, the Egyptian went down under a sliding challenge from opposition defender Jack Simpson.
Despite replays appearing to show that Simpson did not get a touch on the ball when making that challenge, referee Darren Bond awarded a goal kick.
Keith Hackett has sympathy with Pep Guardiola frustrations
Speaking on commentary of the game on BBC Sport, Mark Scott noted that while Man City’s players had not made much of it, Guardiola had been left “fuming” on the touchline.
When asked by Football Insider if the Spaniard had a right to be frustrated, Hackett said:
“The referee’s in a good position, I don’t know what he’s looking at. For me that’s a penalty, he’s come across him and he’s wiped him out.”
Despite not being given that penalty, Kevin De Bruyne’s late goal was still enough to ensure that Man City secured their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Leyton Orient meanwhile now find their full focus on their quest to secure a place in the League One play-offs this season.