Manchester City faced the heat from the Football Association, enduring a hefty fine of £120,000 ($151,740) following an incident where their players swarmed referee Simon Hooper during a nail-biting 3-3 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

The tumultuous sequence unfolded late in the game on December 3 when the referee halted play after initially allowing the game to continue despite a foul on Erling Haaland, resulting in Jack Grealish advancing towards goal. Follow your favourite Premier League team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet. 

A cluster of City players encircled referee Simon Hooper in protest, contesting his decision to stop play after Grealish’s advancement, which seemingly disrupted the flow of the match.

In their official statement, the FA declared, “Manchester City FC admitted that they failed to ensure their players did not behave in an improper way during the 94th minute. An independent Regulatory Commission imposed this sanction following a hearing.”

The match, which ended in a riveting 3-3 draw, witnessed City’s hopes of victory dashed when Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski netted an equalizer in the 90th minute, countering Grealish’s 81st-minute goal that had initially appeared to seal the win for the Cityzens.

This incident marks City’s third consecutive draw in the league, adding a layer of controversy to the enthralling clash against Tottenham Hotspur and igniting discussions regarding the conduct of players on the pitch.

As Manchester City contends with the ramifications of this disciplinary action, the team’s conduct on the field comes under scrutiny, emphasizing the importance of maintaining sportsmanship and fair play in the competitive realm of Premier League football. Get the latest updates from the Premier League only on Nextbet Sports.