Man City news: Campbell fumes after Riyad Mahrez controversy analysed
Kevin Campbell has slammed the consistency of refereeing after Man City winger Riyad Mahrez was penalised for handball against FC Copenhagen.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Arsenal and Everton striker suggested each referee is interpreting the handball rule differently.
As shown on BT Sport (11 October), Rodri found the back of the net with a sublime effort from outside the box in the first half of City’s clash with FC Copenhagen on Tuesday.
However, referee Artur Manuel Soares Dias ruled out the goal for handball from Mahrez in the build-up after consulting the pitch-side monitor on the advice of VAR.
The decision would ultimately be pivotal with the two side sharing a goalless draw at Parken.
When asked by Football Insider if the officials came to the right decision in the Champions League clash, Campbell said: “Here we go again.
“It is a nothing decision.
“It was an important one for Copenhagen though because their mindset would have changed if they went a goal down.
“What a strike it was from Rodri. It really superb.
“The ball glanced Mahrez’s hand and by the letter of the law that is a handball. Does Mahrez gain an advantage? That is very debatable.
“I don’t know what the handball rule is anymore, in all honesty. We are seeing different decisions being made be every referee.
“It is a shame for Man City because it was an important moment in the game.”
In other news, a pundit has issued a ‘massive’ Man City verdict after an update on Pep Guardiola’s future via BBC.