Manchester City players were left furious Kepa Arrizabalaga avoided a red card during their Carabao Cup final with Arsenal.
The Spanish shot-stopper was caught napping by Belgian winger Jeremy Doku, when the City star knocked the ball past him with nobody between himself and the goal. However, Kepa momentarily wrapped his arms around Doku before bringing him to ground.
City players were left furious, demanding a red card for denial of a clear goal scoring opportunity, but referee Peter Bankes decided it was only worthy of a yellow card - sparking uproar on the pitch and on social media for City fans.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa Arrizabalaga was lucky to stay on the pitch (Image: Getty Images)
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"How is this not a red card? Kepa should have been sent off," one fan fumed. While a second said: "Either that’s a red or the ref should have given us the advantage!"
"How the can he stop the game there for a yellow card? If you’re stopping it absolutely means you’re giving a red. Ridiculous refereeing," a second fumed. As a third said: "Doku has an open goal to work with from here how is that not a red card?"
And another added: "Mike Dean has just said this wasn’t denying a goal scoring opportunity..."
Dean, speaking on Sky Sports, said: "I think it's a clear yellow card. I feel sorry for the referee because he penalises a bit too quick.
Kepa Arrizabalaga got away with his first mistake but not the second
Kepa Arrizabalaga got away with his first mistake but not the second (Image: Getty Images)
"He (Doku) could have probably carried on and he could have gone square to Haaland, there were players supporting. He could have gone back and cautioned the player but it's gone so wide, the ball, that it's impossible for it to be denying a goalscoring opportunity.
"A yellow card is the correct decision."
While Gary Neville said: "It's one of those if you are Doku where you don't feel like you have got enough out of it.
"You want a penalty, you want a sending off, you want everything when something like that happens. And Pep Guardiola is remonstrating with the fourth official, but I think they have got to the right call. It just feels, sometimes, a little unfair.
"I think you are right, Mike, I think the referee should have allowed the advantage a little bit longer just to see whether a goal came from it."
However, City weren't dragging their heals for too long and they started to turn the screw on an Arsenal side that sleepwalked out into the second period.
Nico O'Reilly was the man of the moment, netting a quick fire brace to send the City fans wild.