Haaland accuses Rosario of unsportsmanlike conduct in Champions League clash
Erling Haaland has accused Porto midfielder Pablo Rosario of grabbing his backside during Manchester City’s ill-tempered 2-0 Champions League triumph at the Estádio do Dragão on Tuesday evening, reports BritPanorama.
The Norwegian striker, who netted both goals in the victory, spoke to Norwegian television following the final whistle about the incident. “I was really keen on a hat-trick and it seemed like he [Rosario] was very eager to stop me from getting it. It was a little interesting, that. You’ll be seeing a picture where he’s grabbing my bottom … it’ll be interesting to see that picture,” Haaland said.
Both players were cautioned by referee Szymon Marciniak after their confrontation in the closing stages of the match. The altercation erupted in the 90th minute after Haaland had found the net for a second time. Rosario brought the City forward down with a forceful tackle, which provoked an angry response from the Norwegian.
The pair squared up to one another, grabbing each other’s shirts in what swiftly descended into a wrestling match on the pitch. Players from both sides rushed in, sparking a broader melee before the two were eventually pulled apart. Marciniak brandished yellow cards for both Haaland and Rosario. The match’s physical nature reflected a contest that had been simmering with tension throughout the ninety minutes.
Trouble had already flared before the second half began. As players made their way to the dressing rooms at the interval, Porto officials pursued referee Marciniak down the tunnel, reportedly angered by an incident involving City’s reserve goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli. City’s summer signing Enzo Fernandez became embroiled in a verbal exchange with Porto staff, which escalated into shoving between members of both camps. Security personnel and club staff intervened swiftly to prevent matters from deteriorating further.
The flashpoint had been fuelled by an earlier aerial challenge in which Marc Guehi caught Porto’s Gabri Veiga in the face, leaving the Portuguese player bloodied and in need of treatment — yet no card was shown. UEFA’s disciplinary body will now review the tunnel incident, examining reports from match delegate Stéphanie Ford and referee Marciniak. Either club could face a fine should it be established that punches were thrown during the fracas.
Beyond the controversy, Haaland’s brace underlined his remarkable recent form in front of goal. His opener against Porto marked a third header in four matches since he cut off his trademark long locks. The 26-year-old revealed he had been honing that particular skill with his father Alf-Inge, the former City midfielder, in rather modest surroundings. “Over the years, I’ve worked a lot on my heading. I’ve improved it massively and it’s become a strength of my game. I think a lot of it comes down to experience,” Haaland said. “Actually, two days ago I was practising headers with my dad in the garden.”
He also touched upon Norway’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals, acknowledging the mental demands of processing such a significant tournament whilst maintaining club commitments. “The physical side is one thing – yes, I played a hell of a lot of games last season – but most of it is mental,” he admitted.
In an encounter where skill was overshadowed by strife, Haaland’s performance stands out amidst the fracas — a reminder that in football, brilliance often coexists with tumult.
