Pep Guardiola Rayan Ait-Nouri, Man City
Credit: DAZN via YouTube
Keith Hackett
Tue 1 July 2025 12:34, UK
Keith Hackett has given his verdict after Rayan Ait-Nouri and Ilkay Gundogan were accused of handballs in the build-up to Man City’s opening goal against Al-Hilal.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that, having reviewed the incident, his stance on the handball law remains unchanged.
Pep Guardiola‘s side cruised through to the Club World Cup‘s first knockout round, comfortably dispatching Wydad Casablanca and Al-Ain, before dismantling Juventus 5-2.
Having dominated the Italian giants, City were amongst the favourites to go all the way in the competition, becoming the first back-to-back winners since Real Madrid, who won three times in a row between 2016 and 2018.
However, Al-Hilal had already proven themselves a difficult opponent, drawing with Los Blancos in the group stage.
Man City take controversial lead through Bernardo Silva
With just nine minutes gone, new signing Tijjani Reijnders delicately flicked the ball through a gap in Al-Hilal’s defence.
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Running onto the chipped pass, Ait-Nouri appeared to guide the ball forwards with his hand, before steadying himself and firing a pass towards the six-yard box.
The ball pinged off an Al-Hilal defender and the ball appeared to hit the arm of Gundogan, although there was little the German could do to avoid the contact.
Following a stroke of good luck, Bernardo Silva found himself with the goal at his mercy and tapped home to score his first goal since being appointed the Sky Blues’ captain.
Bernardo Silva Man City
Bernardo Silva has been appointed Man City’s new captain. (Credit Imago)
Keith Hackett gives verdict on Ait-Nouri, Ilkay Gundogan handballs
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, ex-PGMOL chief Hackett stated that whilst there was little Gundogan could do to avoid handling the ball, Ait-Nouri had unfairly benefited and a free-kick should have been called for by referee Jesus Valenzuela Saez.
He said: “The trajectory of the movement of the ball was helped by the hand/arm of the Manchester City number 21 [Ait-Nouri] and at that point, there was evidence for the referee to blow for a free kick for handball.
“He took no action, and when the ball was crossed, I do not think that the Manchester City player [Gundogan] had any chance of moving his arm away, so the second incident was not an offence for me.
“I have already stated that the handball law is too subjective.
Hackett added: “The decision is subjective and the referee had a clear view of the actions of the Manchester City player’s actions and was satisfied that the action of number 21 was not deliberate.
“I disagree and see movement of the hand to ball, and that deflection helping the player in that passage of play.”
Whilst Al-Hilal’s players were furious at the decision to allow the goal, the Saudi Arabian side mustered an immense comeback and claimed a historic 4-3 win, sending City off on an early holiday.
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