Referee Simon Hooper is set to take charge of Sunday’s high-stakes Premier League encounter between Arsenal and Manchester United, with fans and pundits recalling the official’s previous high-profile error during a 2023 match between Manchester City and Tottenham.
Hooper faced intense scrutiny after halting a late City counter-attack by blowing for a foul just as Jack Grealish broke clear on goal, a decision PGMOL chief Howard Webb later admitted left the official “devastated” because he “knew this is going to be the only talking point” despite refereeing the game well for 93 minutes.
The incident sparked a furious reaction from Erling Haaland and left manager Pep Guardiola baffled, with the Spaniard noting at the time that “it is hard when you review the image, the referee decides to blow the whistle after he has already said to play on.”
As he prepares for the showdown at the Emirates, Hooper will be under pressure to avoid a repeat of such controversy in a match that carries significant implications for both sides’ league ambitions.