Manchester City Players Confront Officials Over Call in Derby Loss, per Report

Controversy over the officiating hung over the Manchester derby and ultimately led to a postgame altercation in the tunnel.

A group of Manchester City players confronted officials in the tunnel following their wild 2–1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford, according to ESPN.

The reason for frustration from the City side was centered around a controversial call on United’s first goal of the afternoon, which saw United striker Marcus Rashford in a clear offside position prior to Bruno Fednandes’s equalizer. Rashford appeared to make a run for the ball but didn’t touch it, and Fernandes smashed it home to tie the match. Though the goal was initially called off, referee Stuart Attwell reviewed the decision and then overturned the offside call because Rashford did not touch the ball, although he seemingly interfered with the play.

Frustrated City players, including opening goalscorer Jack Grealish, were seen arguing with Attwell as they left the pitch. ESPN reported that those discussions continued into the Old Trafford tunnel and included assistant referees Gary Beswick and Darren Cann as well as fourth official Robert Jones.

Manchester City are not happy with the referees at the conclusion of the match. #MyPLMorning | #MUNMCI pic.twitter.com/syfxT4SLSq

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 14, 2023

Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji alluded to the tunnel confrontation when speaking to reporters after the match, appearing to confirm that some sort of incident took place.

“I came really late to it,” he said, per ESPN. “When I was there it was close to the end. I don’t know how it started or what was the actual reason but everybody was not in a good mood.”

Akanji also made his thoughts on the controversial decision involving Rashford known. saying he thought “the pressure” of the Manchester derby got to the game’s officiating crew.

“To be honest, the first goal is a joke that it’s allowed. Rashford is clearly offside so I played him offside,” the City defender said. "He runs to the last second and only stops because Bruno is coming in behind him.

“I understand he doesn’t touch the ball but he runs for 30 meters, chasing the ball then he stops. The ref didn’t look at the situation.”

Should Manchester United's goal have been allowed?

Marcus Rashford was in an offside position but didn't touch the ball. #MyPLMorning | #MUNMCI pic.twitter.com/OLOQHVZdP9

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 14, 2023

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also commented on the officiating, suggesting that the decision to reverse the call on Rashford had been influenced by the home United crowd. 

“Rashford is offside, Bruno is not offside, the question is interference,” Guardiola said, per ESPN. “When one player from 18-yard box shoots and one player is in front of the keeper but doesn’t touch the ball, it is disallowed all the time...

"This is the decision in this stadium with the referee and the VAR. Here he said not intervene in this stadium. What are we to do? Are we going to make a complaint? No. It sometimes happens on our side.

“The decision is they didn’t believe Rashford was intervening in this stadium.”