Simon Hooper “was devastated” after not giving Manchester City a late advantage in their Premier League draw with Spurs, according to Howard Webb.
Referee Hooper awarded a free-kick to City in added time, just when it looked like Jack Grealish was through on goal.
The official initially waved play on when Erling Haaland was fouled by Emerson Royal, but he halted the match once the through ball was played.
“I understand the disappointment that City felt on this one,” said Webb.
Webb, the 2010 World Cup final referee, is chief refereeing officer at Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), which manages elite officials in England.
The Football Association charged City with failing to control their players in the aftermath of the incident in the 3-3 draw on December 3.
Norway forward, Haaland, was one of several City players to remonstrate with Hooper. He continued his protests after the final whistle, reposting a clip of the incident on X, formerly Twitter, with the comment “Wtf”, which is offensive slang.
The decision also attracted considerable criticism from pundits.
Speaking on Match Officials Mic’d Up, a Premier League Productions programme which analyses key decisions in recent matches, Webb understood the frustration.
“It is an officiating mistake and the VAR has no part to play in this,” Webb said.
“We’re always looking, as officials, to have that positive influence on the game, by trying to identify occasions when we can allow the game to play through an advantage.
“He decides to penalise just at the moment as the ball’s about to go, he blows the whistle, and then realises that a wonderful advantage was available.
“He was devastated. He’d refereed the game really well for 93 minutes, but he knew this is going to be the only talking point. It would have been a wonderful advantage.”
—BBC
