Ilkay Gundogan Antoine Semenyo Manchester City Bournemouth
(Credit: Imago, ITV1)
Keith Hackett
Sun 30 March 2025 19:38, UK
Ilkay Gundogan got lucky in avoiding a yellow card for a “reckless” challenge in Manchester City’s FA Cup win over Bournemouth, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that referee Stuart Attwell could easily have brandished a booking after Gundogan cut down Antoine Semenyo early in the match.
Gundogan flying late into challenges was the least of City’s problems in the early stages of Sunday’s quarter-final clash, as Evanilson put Bournemouth 1-0 up after Erling Haaland’s penalty was saved.
Bournemouth took their 1-0 lead into half-time and deserved to do so but the introduction of Nico O’Reilly at the break proved crucial for City, as he provided the impetus which Phil Foden had lacked.
O’Reilly set up Haaland to equalise four minutes after the break, and squeezed the ball through for fellow substitute Omar Marmoush to slot home the winner on 63 minutes, with Gundogan withdrawn late on.
Nico O’Reilly bailed Gundogan and Manchester City out against Bournemouth (Credit: Imago)
Gundogan gets lucky as Stuart Attwell fails to act early on
Pep Guardiola’s half-time introduction of O’Reilly helped swing the balance for City in midfield, but they might not have taken the game by the scruff of the neck had Gundogan been cautioned much earlier on.
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The 34-year-old was caught on the wrong side when Semenyo barged Bernardo Silva off the ball, sliding in and catching the Ghanaian very late indeed to leave Bournemouth‘s number 24 writhing on the deck.
Bournemouth Statistic Man City
1 Goals 2
1.67 xG 3.43
2 / 5 Shots on Target 7 / 17
36% Possession 64%
2 Corners 4
Gundogan played a key role in City’s win at the Vitality Stadium
This tackle came in just the sixth minute at the Vitality Stadium, but Attwell – despite blowing for the free-kick immediately following a succession of heavy challenges – chose not to card the German.
Gundogan was therefore spared an early booking which could’ve made him a marked man for the next 84 minutes, and he instead pulled the strings at the base as City embarked on a second-half comeback.
Hackett believed that had the challenge come later in the match – not that this factor should make any difference whatsoever – Attwell would have had no hesitation in showing Gundogan the yellow card.
Man City manager Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola’s side are in the FA Cup semi-finals for the seventh season running
Stuart Attwell far too lenient after Gundogan challenge v Bournemouth – Keith Hackett
After being asked by Football Insider if Gundogan avoided a yellow card solely because his challenge on Semenyo came in just the sixth minute at the Vitality, the former FIFA referee said:
“Ilkay Gundogan’s challenge was reckless and he is lucky to escape a yellow card.
“Clearly the referee Stuart Attwell, who is an experienced official, decided to take a lenient approach so early on in the game.”
Had Gundogan been carrying a yellow card from the sixth minute of the contest, he and Man City may not have had such a comfortable time of stopping Bournemouth’s runs forward from midfield.
The Cherries were on top in the early stages, culminating in Evanilson’s 21st-minute opener, but after that City were able to re-assert control and won it thanks to Haaland and Marmoush’s quick-fire strikes.
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