Ex-Fifa referee: Ruling body set to take action against Guardiola after Man City footage analysed
Pep Guardiola can expect a warning for the FA for his outburst after Man City drew 2-2 with Liverpool, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-FIFA and Premier League referee insisted Guardiola questioned the integrity of the referee in his post-match comments.
The City boss was left fuming after James Milner avoided a red card at Anfield.
He was shown a yellow card in the first half and Guardiola was insistent that he deserved a second booking for a challenge on Bernardo Silva late on.
As quoted by the Manchester Evening News, he suggested the referee may have avoided the decision because of the passion of the Anfield crowd.
"Look, I've been involved with refereeing for over 50 years and one of the great pluses of English refereeing is the integrity and esteem in which they are held around the world," Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
"When I was an active referee, they just loved me when I went to Italy. English refereeing upholds all the standards.
"The referee is human, he's not going to be influenced. He's a very good referee and it was a very good appointment by the PGMOL.
"Look at all the decisions he got right, don't question his integrity because that is a step too far. I believe what he said is questioning the integrity of the referee.
"I think that is over the mark. Hopefully, the FA look at his post-match comments and bring him into line.
"That might not be an open fine, that might just be an FA warning. The FA have to act on it."