Ex-Premier League referee: Pep Guardiola at ‘massive risk’ at Man City after dangerous development
Pep Guardiola and his Man City players are at “massive risk” if drones start turning up at the Etihad Stadium during games, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted officials must take the players off if the issue arises again.
The Daily Mail reported earlier this month (13 November) that a drone interrupted Man City’s 2-0 win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup earlier this month (9 November).
The drone appeared over the Man City technical area and referee Simon Hooper almost paused the game to take the players off but it quickly flew away.
It is claimed that this is not the first time this his happened at the Etihad and the drone was tracked to a nearby estate and a man was arrested.
“First of all, when there is a drone inside the stadium there is a massive risk for the players,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“What if it conked out and all of a sudden it falls on the head of a player?
“For me, I’m quite clear, once that is detected the referee has to bring the players off for their own safety and his own safety.
“Then the police have got the onerous task of getting the equipment.
“In a way, he was fairly fortunate that it was close to half-time and it disappeared.
“As I understand it, there are ways and means for them to trace the piece of equipment so the police will be very clear to where the piece of equipment came from, went and who has got it.”
In other news, “Man City are powerless” as an Erling Haaland “suspension” is mooted after a major reveal.