CHRIS SUTTON: Yes, referee Simon Hooper made a mistake during Man City’s 3-3 draw with Tottenham… but the abuse is grotesque!

• Simon Hooper made a mistake, a big one, but plenty of players made mistakes 
• That includes Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who missed an open goal
• Human errors happen and Hooper will know he shouldn’t have blown his whistle

Simon Hooper made a mistake, a big one, but then plenty of players made mistakes in this 3-3 thriller, arguably bigger ones.

That includes Erling Haaland, who missed an open goal and yet was screaming in Hooper’s face as if he alone had stopped Manchester City from winning.

Human errors happen and Hooper will know now he should never have blown his whistle. He initially played an advantage following Emerson Royal’s foul on Haaland, then changed his mind after the pass was played to Jack Grealish.

No one knows if Grealish would have scored, especially as he had Tottenham players chasing him. 

But what I do know is that the abuse of match officials is utterly grotesque.

City striker Erling Haaland (left) is tripped by Spurs’ Emerson Royal and referee Simon Hooper (right) looks as though he is about to blow…

However, Hooper then raises his arm as he looks to play advantage with Haaland aiming to release City winger Jack Grealish (left)

The ball from Haaland is perfect and Grealish is onside as he times his run well. Hooper (right) now puts the whistle to his lips and blows

Grealish is clean through, albeit with three Spurs players furiously backtracking, but play has been called back on Mr Hooper’s whistle

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It only took a quick search on social media to see the vitriol last night, the insults and the threats. 

It is a grim consequence of social media’s faceless nature and Hooper should not be subjected to such hideousness because he failed to play advantage in a football match. 

He will be feeling bad enough as it is, knowing there is a chance the PGMOL could remove him from his duties for Sheffield United versus Liverpool on Wednesday because of the error.

When you feel the urge to bash Hooper for what happened, try to remember he wasn’t the only one who made a mistake yesterday.

Simon Hooper made a mistake, a big one, but plenty of players made mistakes in the game

That includes Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (above), who missed an open goal

Human errors happen and Hooper will now know he should have never blown his whistle

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