Manchester City Players Confronts Center Referee Stuart Attwell For Allowing “Joke” Equaliser in Derby Loss

Manchester City players reportedly confronted referee Stuart Attwell in the tunnel for allowing a “joke” goal by Manchester United in derby loss.

Manchester United secured a historic comeback win that left Manchester City stunned, but United’s first goal was controversial.

Marcus Rashford was offside when Casemiro sends a through-ball upfront. Bruno Fernandez latched onto the pass and slotted it pass City goalkeeper.

Linesman Cann flagged the goal for offside, but the decision was overturned by the center referee Stuart Attwell after discussions with him.

While Marcus Rashford was offside, he did not touch the ball before Bruno Fernandes scored.

However, the dispute hinged on how Rashford interfered in the build-up to the goal, and the goal is said to have sparked a tunnel row with City players confronting Stuart Attwell.

According to Ex-Middlesbrough Norway frontman Jan Åge Fjørtoft, Jack Grealish who opened the scoring for Manchester City was “not aggressive” in the tunnel exchange but acted “‘very disappointed” while Man United sub, Harry Maguire was “talking a bit” as City continued to vent their frustration.

Other Manchester City stars, Kyle Walker and Manuel Akanji also vented their frustrations with Stuart Attwell for allowing Bruno’s controversial equaliser.

Akanji was angry at Stuart Attwell’s decision, calling the decision to award the goal a “joke,” saying Marcus Rashford was “clearly offside” in the buildup to the goal.

“The first goal is a joke. Rashford is clearly offside so I played him offside”, the 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 metres, chasing the ball then he stops. The referee didn’t look at the situation.”

Rashford was clearly offside as argued by Akanji but since he did not touch the ball the referee allowed the goal.

Pep Guardiola had insisted Marcus Rashford’s actions affected the ability of center-backs Akanji and Nathan Ake to challenge properly.

Meanwhile, while taking center stage on the controversies surrounding the first United goal, Rashford’s second goal was beyond dispute.

After a brilliant cross from substitute Alejandro Garnacho, Rashford poked home Man United’s second goal to hand the Red Devils a crucial win that saw them close the gap on City to one point.

Marcus Rashford scored his 16th man United goal this season in the crucial tie that saw United avenged a first-leg heavy 6-3 loss to their noisy neighbors.

Meanwhile, the loss at Old Trafford will now hand Arsenal a golden chance to open the gap on top of the table to 8 points if they secure a win against Spurs.

The Premier League title is now more open to Arsenal with Pep Guardiola conceding the Gunners are more likely to win following the loss at Old Trafford.

Manchester City have now lost two matches in four days following the defeat, with an astonishing stats that has raised concerns.

They were bundled out by Southampton in the EFL Cup, and have recorded just a shot on target throughout the two matches.