Guardiola criticises match officials ahead of Champions League clash
Pep Guardiola has refused to back down from his criticism of match officials and PGMO chief Howard Webb, maintaining his stance during Tuesday’s press conference ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League fixture against Galatasaray, reports BritPanorama.
The City manager offered a qualified apology to referee Farai Hallam following his pointed remarks at the weekend, whilst firmly standing by his right to speak out. “If he is offended then I am so sorry. I know it’s not easy on debut,” Guardiola said. However, the Spaniard made clear he would continue defending his squad against what he perceives as unfair treatment from officials.
The controversy erupted following Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Wolves at the Etihad, during which Hallam was officiating his first top-flight match. City were furious when appeals for a handball against Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera were rejected, despite the referee being directed to the pitchside monitor following a lengthy VAR review. Hallam ultimately chose to uphold his original decision not to award a spot-kick. Guardiola’s post-match response was scathing, with the manager sarcastically praising the official’s “huge debut” and suggesting Hallam had made the occasion about himself.
“I think it’s the first time they go to the TV and disallow what is a ‘normal’ position of the arms,” Guardiola remarked. Wolves manager Rob Edwards, by contrast, commended Hallam for showing courage in standing by his call. Guardiola’s frustrations extend well beyond the Wolves match, citing a pattern of decisions he believes have disadvantaged his side.
The disallowed goal during the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Newcastle remains a source of irritation, as does Diogo Dalot’s challenge on Jeremy Doku during the Manchester derby. Guardiola revealed that Doku was unable to feature in City’s subsequent match in Norway due to the injury sustained from Dalot’s tackle, which went unpunished with a red card. The City boss has now mentioned Webb on three separate occasions within a fortnight, including a sarcastic invitation for the PGMO chief to publicly explain the Wolves handball decision. “Don’t wait for Wednesday – we have Champions League; we are busy – Howard Webb, come tomorrow and explain why it’s not a penalty,” Guardiola said.
Guardiola emphasised that throughout his near-decade at the Etihad, he has maintained a respectful relationship with officials, rarely commenting on contentious decisions even during defeats. “How many times did I criticise referees last season, which was the worst season in 10 years? Never,” he said. The manager pointed to his conduct following previous setbacks, including the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, as evidence of his typically measured approach. “After United, how were my comments about the referees? I was incredibly respectful in 10 years about referees; I never commented anything,” Guardiola added.
He argued that referees protect one another through official statements, leaving him no choice but to advocate for his own players. “I don’t think the referees are going to defend us, so I have to defend myself. I think that’s fair,” he concluded. As the Champions League approaches, Guardiola’s unyielding stance could reignite discussions on the treatment of players and the accountability of officials in a league where every point is crucial.
