As both players went for the ball, Erling Haaland caught Joachim Andersen in the head with a high boot. The Manchester City striker received no punishment.
It may sound unfair to many because some players were sent-off the field with a red card by referees for less.
A high boot on the neck of another player should be an offence as football is not a game for acrobats, one would say.
What are the rules?
Nevertheless, some experts have given their views on the matter.
Dermot Callagher for example says, “I don’t think it’s a red card. It’s a genuine attempt by a player to play the ball.
“Andersen throws himself in and he’s allowed to do that, but I don’t think Haaland sees him, his boot is up.
“If the referee gives a free kick and a yellow card, it’s enough. It’s reckless, but it’s certainly not dangerous and he hasn’t gone to hurt the player.”
In 2017, a high boot by Sadio Mane that caught the face of Manchester City’s goalkeeper Ederson resulted in Mane’s sending-off.
All the while, Mane appeared to play the ball as he had his eyes on the sphere that was flying in the air but he was given his marching orders by ref Jon Moss at that time.
The City goalkeeper was sent off the pitch on a stretcher and later on, City coach Pep Gardiola confirmed that the keeper suffered no injuries at all.
Mane missed the next three matches but Haaland will get to play more matches and score more goals if he is lucky.
If there is something fishy, it must be that City is luckier than other teams since both incidents involves a city player and in both cases, City is on the winning end.
Meanwhile, it appears that referees are after all human. They do decide on impulse and on sentiments, don’t they?