Manchester City fans can breathe easy after it was confirmed that Erling Haaland will not face any retrospective punishment for an incident during City’s thrilling 2-2 draw against Arsenal.
The Norwegian striker threw the ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes' head, but the Football Association (FA) has decided no further action will be taken.
A dramatic draw with no extra drama for Haaland
In a fiery contest at the Etihad Stadium, City grabbed a late equalizer thanks to John Stones in the 98th minute.
Haaland had earlier scored the opener, marking his 100th goal for the reigning Premier League champions. But the game took a wild turn when Arsenal, already down a player after Leandro Trossard was sent off, fought to protect a narrow lead.
When Stones bundled in the late equalizer, the match seemed destined for drama. But after celebrating, Haaland picked up the ball and tossed it against Gabriel’s head.
The Arsenal defender, his shirt over his face, never saw it coming. Although it seemed like a flashpoint moment, no action was taken on the pitch.
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VAR saves the day for City
Manchester City fans might have worried about a possible punishment for Haaland after the game, but the FA quickly shut down any concerns.
Since all the incidents, including Haaland’s throw, were reviewed by VAR during the match, the disciplinary team confirmed no further action would be taken.
It seems Haaland dodged more than just defenders this time—he dodged a potential ban as well! So, while Arsenal might have left with a point, City fans can take some comfort knowing their star striker will be ready to lead the line again next match.
