City's controversial penalty kick: "What a pile of sh*t, pathetic"

City ripped RB Leipzig to shreds in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie. Pep Guardiola's side ran out 7-0 winners.

The first goal was scored by Haaland, from the penalty spot. Controversy ensued. The referee awarded a penalty in favour of City after the ball very slightly hit Henrichs' arm. The Norwegian didn't miss and the networks exploded because, for many, the action was not deserving of such a punishment.

Alan Shearer could not and would not hide his opinion on the matter. "What a pile of sh*t the hand ball law is," he wrote, visibly enraged. Alongside those words, an adjective in the form of a hashtag: pathetic.​

Rio Ferdinand and Nedum Onuoha, who commented on the match on 'BT Sport', were also upset by the referee's decision. "The literal rule would say it's a handball, but it's a bad rule.... Henrichs is not looking at the ball when it hits him," the former explained. "I don't think it was a penalty...," said the second.

 

March 14, 2023