Exclusive: ‘Insufficient evidence’ against Haaland goal for Man City at Tottenham
Man City striker Erling Haaland should not have had a goal disallowed for handball during his side’s win over Tottenham, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that there was not enough evidence for referee Jarred Gillett to rule out the goal from the Norwegian international.
Haaland had picked up an injury in Man City’s win over Newcastle that had kept him out of their last two games.
The striker then returned to action on Wednesday night (26 February) with Pep Guardiola naming him in the starting lineup for that clash with Tottenham.
It was a move that paid off as Haaland scored the only goal of the game to secure a 1-0 win for the current Premier League champions.
However, the 24-year-old could have added another to his tally, were it not for the intervention of Gillett.
Erling Haaland has late second goal ruled out at Tottenham
As the match entered second half stoppage time, it looked as though Haaland had got his and his side’s second goal of the match.
| Erling Haaland for Man City in 2024/25 | Total (as per Transfermarkt) |
| Appearances | 36 |
| Goals | 28 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 |
The Man City man had managed to force his way into the Spurs penalty area, before receiving a return pass as he looked to ride challenges from Kevin Danso and Archie Gray.
In doing to the ball bounced in the area before landing at the feet of Haaland who fired into the back of the net.
Gillet though then blew to rule the goal out for handball against the striker, judging the ball to have caught the hand of the striker while it was in the air.
In doing so the referee ruled in the hosts favour, amid Tottenham captain Son Heung-min’s frustrations with him earlier in the game.
Although that decision was reviewed by VAR, an apparent lack of proof meant they elected not to recommend overturning the on-field decision thus denying Haaland and Man City a goal.
Hackett though feels that goal ought to have been allowed to stand given the of clarity either way over whether the ball had been handled.
Keith Hackett reacts to disallowed Man City goal
Speaking to Football Insider about Gillett’s decision to rule out that goal from Haaland, the former referee said:
“When Haaland put the ball in the back of the net for Manchester City last night, I was rather surprised that referee Jarred Gillett, who had had a terrific match, pointed towards a free-kick and disallowed the goal for what appeared to be handball.
“However, when you review, it’s not that conclusive, and for me it’s insufficient evidence to actually rule out a goal. VAR didn’t come in on the assumption that it wasn’t a clear and obvious error.
“So Haaland had a goal chalked off when I think it should have counted.”
That wasn’t enough to deny Man City the win, and there would be another eye-catching incident at full-time in the match, when Pep Guardiola appeared to “slap” Tottenham full-back Djed Spence on the pitch.