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Man City embarrassed and out of Club World Cup as ref ignores VAR rule due to angry stars
Manchester City were humiliated in America as they were dumped out of the FIFA Club World Cup by Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, but not before controversy involving VAR and referee Jesus Valenzuela
Manchester City were embarrassed as they were knocked out of the FIFA Club World Cup by Saudi side Al-Hilal, amid a VAR controversy.
Pep Guardiola's side were humiliated by a shock loss to the 2021 AFC Champions League winners, who beat the Premier League giants 4-3 with a 112th minute winner in extra time - a massive upset that Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi described like "climbing Mount Everest without oxygen".
But it was not before the match referee flouted VAR protocol and clarified his decision to award a goal amidst the vehement protests from Al-Hilal players. Referees are obliged to inform the crowd when a decision has been reversed following a VAR review. However, no such announcement is necessary if the VAR concurs with the referee's initial decision.
This rule was overlooked during City's capitulation to the Saudi team on Tuesday morning, amid fierce objections from Al-Hilal players and fans. After a fine win over Juventus in their last outing, Bernardo Silva put City ahead early on by nudging the ball into the net from close quarters.
Al Hilal players immediately disputed the goal, imploring referee Jesús Valenzuela to look at the big screens displaying a replay of the goal, which showed the ball hitting Rayan Ait-Nouri on the arm in the lead-up to the goal.
However, the VAR had already scrutinised the goal, determining that the ball hit Ait-Nouri high enough on the arm for the goal to stand. Despite this, the opposition team and their supporters remained unyielding and continued their protest, reports the Mirror.
Eventually, referee Jesús Valenzuela felt compelled to explain his decision to the crowd over the PA system, even though he wasn't required to do so as his decision hadn't been overturned.
After the confusion was cleared up, Al Hilal's fans and players finally settled down, allowing the match to proceed. They then pulled off a stunning upset, beating City in extra-time in Orlando.
Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo equalised just 44 seconds into the second half, before in the 52nd minute former Barcelona man Malcom ran clear and slotted to give Al-Hilal a shock lead. Erling Haaland poked in from a corner just minutes later.
In extra time Al-Hilal thought they have won it when former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly powered in a header. But 10 minutes later substitute Phil Foden squeezed home a volley from an acute angle to keep City alive, only for Leonardo to convert at the back post and stun the football world.
Pep Guardiola maintained that they had created and squandered enough opportunities to secure the win, following a 4-3 defeat after 120 minutes of play.
Guardiola reflected: "It was a difficult game. We allowed them to make transitions we created a lot. It is a pity, we have been on incredible journey together and so good place.
"We were so open. When the crosses arrived, in the first action, they had the ability to pass the ball and attack and they have quick players. We created a lot and had a lot of chances against a team that defend so deep. They punished us on the transitions."
Despite the tournament ending in disappointment, Guardiola praised the training camp.
He added: "The vibe was really good, I cannot thank Manchester City enough and especially the players for training and how they have been playing. The margins are minimal, they ran into transitions a bit, but we created a lot, Bono made incredible saves.
"We would have loved to have continued, only here once every four year, we had a feeling that the team is doing well but we go home and now it is time to rest and rest our minds for the new season.
"It is too early to say but so many good things I did not seen in the past. The relationship between the players, our captained helped a lot and the standards with staff."
Al-Hilal boss Inzaghi said: "I felt we were happy here, the training sessions have been really good but the level of this competition is the World Cup and we regret a little bit that we allowed them to run a bit more."
He then likened his team's victory over City to a monumental achievement, saying it was like "climbing Mount Everest without oxygen".
Daily Star Sunday
Manchester City were humiliated in America as they were dumped out of the FIFA Club World Cup by Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, but not before controversy involving VAR and referee Jesus Valenzuela
Manchester City were embarrassed as they were knocked out of the FIFA Club World Cup by Saudi side Al-Hilal, amid a VAR controversy.
Pep Guardiola's side were humiliated by a shock loss to the 2021 AFC Champions League winners, who beat the Premier League giants 4-3 with a 112th minute winner in extra time - a massive upset that Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi described like "climbing Mount Everest without oxygen".
But it was not before the match referee flouted VAR protocol and clarified his decision to award a goal amidst the vehement protests from Al-Hilal players. Referees are obliged to inform the crowd when a decision has been reversed following a VAR review. However, no such announcement is necessary if the VAR concurs with the referee's initial decision.
This rule was overlooked during City's capitulation to the Saudi team on Tuesday morning, amid fierce objections from Al-Hilal players and fans. After a fine win over Juventus in their last outing, Bernardo Silva put City ahead early on by nudging the ball into the net from close quarters.
Al Hilal players immediately disputed the goal, imploring referee Jesús Valenzuela to look at the big screens displaying a replay of the goal, which showed the ball hitting Rayan Ait-Nouri on the arm in the lead-up to the goal.
However, the VAR had already scrutinised the goal, determining that the ball hit Ait-Nouri high enough on the arm for the goal to stand. Despite this, the opposition team and their supporters remained unyielding and continued their protest, reports the Mirror.
Eventually, referee Jesús Valenzuela felt compelled to explain his decision to the crowd over the PA system, even though he wasn't required to do so as his decision hadn't been overturned.
After the confusion was cleared up, Al Hilal's fans and players finally settled down, allowing the match to proceed. They then pulled off a stunning upset, beating City in extra-time in Orlando.
Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo equalised just 44 seconds into the second half, before in the 52nd minute former Barcelona man Malcom ran clear and slotted to give Al-Hilal a shock lead. Erling Haaland poked in from a corner just minutes later.
In extra time Al-Hilal thought they have won it when former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly powered in a header. But 10 minutes later substitute Phil Foden squeezed home a volley from an acute angle to keep City alive, only for Leonardo to convert at the back post and stun the football world.
Pep Guardiola maintained that they had created and squandered enough opportunities to secure the win, following a 4-3 defeat after 120 minutes of play.
Guardiola reflected: "It was a difficult game. We allowed them to make transitions we created a lot. It is a pity, we have been on incredible journey together and so good place.
"We were so open. When the crosses arrived, in the first action, they had the ability to pass the ball and attack and they have quick players. We created a lot and had a lot of chances against a team that defend so deep. They punished us on the transitions."
Despite the tournament ending in disappointment, Guardiola praised the training camp.
He added: "The vibe was really good, I cannot thank Manchester City enough and especially the players for training and how they have been playing. The margins are minimal, they ran into transitions a bit, but we created a lot, Bono made incredible saves.
"We would have loved to have continued, only here once every four year, we had a feeling that the team is doing well but we go home and now it is time to rest and rest our minds for the new season.
"It is too early to say but so many good things I did not seen in the past. The relationship between the players, our captained helped a lot and the standards with staff."
Al-Hilal boss Inzaghi said: "I felt we were happy here, the training sessions have been really good but the level of this competition is the World Cup and we regret a little bit that we allowed them to run a bit more."
He then likened his team's victory over City to a monumental achievement, saying it was like "climbing Mount Everest without oxygen".
Daily Star Sunday