Ex-Uefa official: Man City in contact with lawyers over controversy – ‘I’m expecting charges’
Man City will be in contact with their lawyers as Uefa are set to decide to take action following the 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid last week (13 April).
That is according to ex-Fifa and Uefa referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider as he expects charges to be dished out.
Tempers flared at the Wanda Metropolitano in the closing stages when a foul by Felipe on Phil Foden led to a mass confrontation as Man City progressed 1-0 on aggregate.
Sky Sports reported on Thursday (14 April) Uefa are awaiting reports before deciding whether they will take any action.
“The procedure is very clear,” Hackett told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“When you consider charging a club you’ve got to give that club sufficient time to investigate and come up with a written response. That is invariably handled by lawyers.
“There are no doubts this is being taken seriously by Uefa because they protect the image of the game.
“Not only will they have the referee’s report, but they will also have seen what’s gone on themselves. The other side is that, at the game, there is a match delegate and that is their role. They look at the overall performance. I’m expecting charges.
“This was a game that was just a bit beyond the referee. You can be a good referee when the games going well but the good referees are the ones who can deal with these types of incidents.
“There were times where he didn’t get a feel for the game and he let it get away from him.
“When there was that mass confrontation at the end in the bottom corner, you don’t want to get involved as you can miss things. You stand off it, watch it and your assistants come and join you but you’ve got to use your whistle. It escalated, didn’t look good and he didn’t take control.”
In other news, Man City have a Fernandinho replacement ‘lined up’ and two Premier League stars are on the shortlist.