‘It’s just amazing’ – PGMOL expert baffled by ‘inconsistencies’ after re-analysing Man City vs Bournemouth controversy
Pep Guardiola and his Man City players had every right to be furious as Bournemouth’s equaliser was allowed to stand.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that had Anthony Taylor been sent to the pitch-side monitor, it would have been overturned.
Erling Haaland was on target for Man City once again, netting a brace, combining with Rayan Cherki for both goals, before young gem Nico O’Reilly sealed the win on Sunday, 2 November.
Savinho, on the other hand, was slammed by the home supporters, but even after his uneventful cameo at the Etihad Stadium, the Citizens managed to seal all three points, battling against controversies.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was clearly fouled before Bournemouth’s goal
In the 25th minute, Alex Scott swung in a dangerous corner, and while Gianluigi Donnarumma was condemned for his weaknesses in the air, it was clear that the goalkeeper was being unfairly challenged.
Upon closer inspection, the Cherries’ winger, David Brooks, had a hold of the goalkeeper’s arm as the corner kick was taken, affecting his judgement before an awful punch gifted Tyler Adams with a goal.
There remains a huge debate over whether allowing the goal was the right decision, but with Taylor not even sent to the pitch-side monitor, the referee was not given another chance to check the incident.
After the game, Guardiola launched into a rant about the referees and how he rarely calls them out for decisions, but even Hackett understood the frustrations surrounding the goal after watching the replays.
Anthony Taylor should have been sent over to the monitor at the Etihad Stadium
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “He’s got his arm wrapped around the goalkeeper, hasn’t he? He’s impeding the goalkeeper! There are inconsistencies in regards to goalkeepers’ involvement in the game.
“In similar circumstances, we’ll have other referees ruling this out, and this one allowing it. This surely should have had VAR brought in, with the referee being sent to the screen?
“I suspect, had that happened, the referee would have ruled that goal out. He’s holding the goalkeeper. Because he’s broken free of the foul, they’ve allowed it, but it’s impacted the goalkeeper.
“It’s just amazing. They’re simple decisions being overcomplicated, but I don’t know what for. Lack of focus? Lack of concentration? Now we’ve got VAR to clarify these things.”