Man City
Keith Hackett
Sat 15 March 2025 21:03, UK
Simon Hooper was “poor” when he booked Man City winger Jeremy Doku for diving in their draw with Brighton, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that Pep Guardiola should also not have responded to that incident in the way that he did at full time.
This has been a disappointing season for the Premier League champions, with the defence of their title looking set to fall flat.
That was again the case on Saturday (15 March), when Man City were held to a 2-2 draw by Brighton at the Etihad.
Within that game, there was one particular moment that did not go down well with Guardiola, leading to a public confrontation between him and Hooper on the pitch after the final whistle.
Keith Hackett on Jeremy Doku yellow card for diving
Keith Hackett has reacted to an incident involving Pep Guardiola and Simon Hooper
Pep Guardiola fumes as Jeremy Doku booked for diving
Amid a sense Guardiola has become frustrated with Jack Grealish at Man City, it was Doku who started on the left-wing in this game.
MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES
With just over an hour on the clock at the Etihad and the score locked at 2-2, Doku was involved in an incident with Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke.
As the winger broke down the left-hand side, the Dutch centre-back came sliding in with a flying challenge that forced Doku to take evasive action by jumping out of the way before landing on the floor.
Man City last five games Result
Liverpool (H) Lost 2-0
Tottenham (A) Won 1-0
Plymouth (H) Won 3-1
Nottingham Forest (A) Lost 1-0
Brighton (H) Drew 2-2
All competitions
Hooper though, then elected to book the Man City winger for simulation, to the clear frustration of his manager.
After the game, Guardiola was seen in discussion with Hooper on the pitch, with the Spaniard later revealing he had been questioning the referee over that booking for Doku.
Now Hackett believes that while the Man City manager did not go about things in the right way, he was entitled to be frustrated over that incident.
Keith Hackett reacts to Man City yellow card controversy
After being asked by Football Insider what he made of the decision to bok Doku for diving and Guardiola’s reaction, the former referee said:
“Guardiola would better serve the game by discussing this incident thirty minutes after the game.
“There is an arrangement in place where after thirty minutes and a cooling off period the manager can knock on the referee’s door and seek clarification.
“This is a poor decision by Hooper because it is clear that the Man City player in taking evasive action has gone to ground. He has not gone to ground in an act of simulation in an attempt to deceive the referee.
“It’s poor game reading by referee Hooper. There is of course no appeal allowed on a yellow card.”
Man City will return to action after the international break with a trip to the Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth in the quarter finals of the FA Cup on 30 March.
Related Posts