Can Erling Haaland face a ban? FA stance on throwing ball at Arsenal’s Gabriel
Erling Haaland faced a possible ban for throwing the ball at Gabriel's head after John Stones' dramatic 98th-minute equaliser against Arsenal on Sunday.
Erling Haaland threw a ball at the head of Gabriel Magalhaes after John Stones' last-minute goal (Image: Premier League)
The FA have explained why they have ruled out a ban for Erling Haaland following his ball-throwing incident with Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes after John Stones' dramatic late equaliser. The Manchester City talisman was in the spotlight during the high-stakes match on Sunday (September 22), where he notched his 100th goal for the Premier League title-holders.
The Norwegian striker found himself locked in a fierce contest with Arsenal's William Saliba and Gabriel. However, it was the Gunners' backline that nearly triumphed at the Etihad Stadium until Stones' 98th-minute leveller shattered their hopes.
In the heated moments following the England defender's goal, Haaland snatched the ball from David Raya's net and hurled it at the back of Gabriel's head as the latter concealed his face with his shirt in the wake of the devastating goal. The provocative move by Haaland ignited tempers, leading to a confrontation between the players.
The tension didn't subside even after the final whistle, with Haaland delivering a pointed three-word admonition to Mikel Arteta, saying: "Stay humble eh", reports the Mirror. Gabriel Jesus, the ex-City forward now with Arsenal, reacted to Haaland's remark aimed at his manager, resulting in a verbal clash before the two were pulled apart.
Despite speculation that Haaland might be retrospectively punished for his actions towards Gabriel, The Football Association confirmed on Monday (September 23) that no disciplinary action will be taken against the 24-year-old. The FA were unable to intervene as the incident involving Haaland had already been reviewed by VAR official, John Brooks, who deemed that the striker's actions did not constitute violent conduct.
The pair had en enjoyable tussle throughout Sunday's clash (Image: Getty)
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As such, Haaland was not deemed deserving of a straight red card and VAR is not permitted to suggest a booking. Additionally, both City and Arsenal avoided any disciplinary action for their post-match antics.
The FA's disciplinary team concluded that there was no specific incident during Sunday's match, either on the pitch or the touchline, that required further action from the football authority. City's point on Sunday keeps them top of the Premier League, narrowly ahead of Liverpool, while Arsenal sit fourth and just a point behind Aston Villa.
