The Football Association (FA) has ruled out retrospective punishment for Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, following his controversial action during City’s dramatic 2-2 draw against Arsenal.
In the 98th minute, after John Stones scored a late equalizer, Haaland threw the ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel’s head while his shirt was pulled over his face.
The incident, which occurred in the final moments of a thrilling match, saw Haaland’s frustration boil over after City battled back from being 2-1 down.
Haaland had opened the scoring early in the game, but Arsenal responded with goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel, putting them ahead. However, City’s late pressure resulted in Stones scoring a bundled equalizer in stoppage time.
READ ALSO: Manchester City risks expulsion from multiple competitions amid financial probe
Leandro Trossard was sent off for Arsenal earlier after receiving a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.
As City celebrated Stones’ equalizer, Haaland’s ball-throwing incident went unnoticed by the officials at the time, prompting discussions over whether further action should be taken.
After reviewing the footage, the FA concluded that no retrospective action would be taken against Haaland, as VAR had already reviewed the incident during the match.
This decision comes despite debate over the nature of Haaland’s actions, with some fans and pundits calling for a review of the situation.
The decision brings an end to the controversy surrounding the incident, allowing both teams to shift focus back to their campaigns as Manchester City continues their title defense and Arsenal aims to stay competitive in the Premier League race.