The Athletic has launched a series of sports debates in which two writers break down a specific topic. In this edition, Rob Tanner and Paul Taylor discuss whether the behaviour of managers and players has got out of hand after another controversial weekend in the Premier League. You can find our previous debate topics here.
Manchester City vs Arsenal on Sunday was gripping from start to finish. Some of that was thanks to the entertaining football. Some of it was because of behavioural aspects of the match that have drawn criticism from players and fans.
There was time wasting, accusations of feigning injury, an abundance of ‘dark arts’, and Erling Haaland throwing a ball at Gabriel as well having a spat with… well, quite a few people.
The combative nature of the game seemed to stem from Kai Havertz’s immediate barge on Rodri, who had made comments about Arsenal before the game. Haaland also barged over an opponent, while 17-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly was booked despite not even being on the pitch — he had been booked without playing a single minute of Premier League football.
It was not the only game over the weekend that featured controversial incidents, however. Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and their head coach Nuno Espirito Santo were charged with improper conduct, along with Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler, after that 2-2 draw descended into acrimony.
Some will see shouting at officials, managers being sent off and players shoving each other as part of the game, while others feel it went too far. Here, two writers discuss the on-field behaviour of managers and players.
Rob Tanner: We all love a bit of drama when the heavyweights of the Premier League go head-to-head. Or, in the case of Haaland, ball-to-Gabriel’s-head.
However, there is a line and I thought that was crossed on Sunday, which has become a common trait of the modern game. Haaland’s behaviour showed huge disrespect for a fellow professional, but that was just one example. There was also his “stay humble” comment to Mikel Arteta after the game.
Paul Taylor: To be fair, Rob, Haaland and the rest of the City players had seen Arsenal pull out every trick in the book to hang on to their lead with 10 men.
Arsenal had taken an average of 42.7 seconds to restart the game every time they had a free kick, goal kick, throw-in or corner.
City had seen Declan Rice, Gabriel Martinelli, Jurrien Timber and David Raya all eke out the seconds with their delaying tactics or need for ‘treatment’ from the physio. Gabriel Jesus even managed to stop a corner being taken when lying on the ground in front of it.
Rob: Yes, that was another aspect of the game, and other matches beside, that I didn’t enjoy. This extreme time-wasting, often by exaggerating injury after a challenge and rolling around after the slightest contact, is designed to draw a foul or delay from the officials, but it just ruins the spectacle and causes frustration.
I get that it is a competitive, combative sport where the tribal rivalries run deep, but children love to mimic their idols. It is great when you see them trying a new trick or copying a goal celebration, but will they also see that as an example of acceptable behaviour?
Paul: Haaland did not viciously assault Gabriel. There was no sly punch or kick, only an almost playful bonk of the ball off his head. The only thing injured by it was Gabriel’s pride, perhaps.
These are world-class athletes who had just spent the previous 100 minutes battling for supremacy. Both sets of players knew that the outcome could have a big say in the title race, even this early in the season.
Was there an element of disrespect in Haaland’s actions? Probably. But it was not a crime that merited the criticism he has received.
And after all Arsenal’s endless antics, they did not come out on top. Haaland’s reaction was a relief-filled, cheeky celebration of that.
Rob: But does it add to the event or take away from it? The time-wasting alone, it’s frustrating. It’s not what we want to see, surely.
Paul: To a point, are the dark arts not exactly that — a kind of art form? There are not many sides who could go toe-to-toe with Manchester City, certainly not with 10 men.
There is a fine line to be walked, even as teams look to find a way to redress the balance. Nobody wants to see a game where one team spends the majority of it wasting every single second possible; taking every opportunity to halt any momentum. But being able to see a game out, to claw your way over the finishing line, is definitely a valuable quality. Just ask Everton, who have become the masters of allowing a 2-0 lead to slip from their grasp.
Jose Mourinho, one of the best managers of his generation, never had an issue with game management; with intelligently doing everything in your power to get to the final whistle with your lead intact. Even the best sides do it. Perhaps the difference lies in whether you start with that mentality in the 10th minute or the 90th.
And, ultimately, is it not the job of the officials to clamp down on things when they go too far?
Rob: Maybe so, Paul, but they are not being helped by players surrounding them or managers haranguing them from the sidelines. We’ve seen several red and yellow cards for managers this season. The officials deserve a lot more respect — that word again — than they are currently shown by players, managers, coaches and even backroom staff. When I see incidents of verbal abuse I cringe.
And how does this then affect the action of players at the grassroots level who are watching on? Do they think this level of dissent and lack of self-control is acceptable? Will they replicate that behaviour in their own games? We know referees at lower levels are regularly being abused by players, coaches and even parents — player behaviour is getting worse and it sets a terrible example.
Paul: Of course, referees do deserve more respect, and nobody is saying it is OK to scream abuse at anyone. That isn’t a positive example to set. But often there can be a cumulative build-up of frustration with officials — not something that is just the result of a handful of decisions over 90 minutes.
The appointment of Rob Jones to referee Sunday’s game between Brighton and Nottingham Forest will have prompted concern among Forest supporters and staff. Jones caused controversy when he showed a second yellow card to Willy Boly when Forest played Bournemouth last December. Nuno’s rant at Brighton, for which he’s been charged by the FA, with Gibbs-White and Hurzeler also charged for their behaviour, appeared to reference this.
But, of course, even this could be mitigated. It is easy to forget that match officials are human beings who will make mistakes.
Rob: Exactly. And I get the frustration. There does seem to be a communication issue. The referees might try to explain their decisions, but it is tough to do if irate players are interrupting and shouting in their face.
Equally, the clubs should be working with their players — and managers — on how they conduct themselves in games because, at the moment, while the football in the Premier League is great, the antics are to the game’s detriment. Governing bodies have spoken about respect for referees, but clearly it is not being followed or backed up with action.
Paul: Again, I can’t argue with that, but the system — and VAR in particular — does not help officials. It’s simple consistency that everyone is looking for and VAR was supposed to bring that. Take the sending off of Leandro Trossard on Sunday for kicking the ball away, for example. City’s Jeremy Doku appeared to do similar and got away with it. Players or coaches abusing referees will never be the answer, but VAR was meant to make the game better. Instead, it has only created more reasons to get angry.
And the officials are the ones who will find themselves in the firing line until the authorities find a way to simplify things again.
Rob: I think we can both agree on VAR and consistency. These complaints just need to be made in the correct way, displaying more respect for those involved and consideration for the young fans watching on.
The Premier League is a fantastic spectacle and it was another entertaining weekend, but it doesn’t need these antics to detract from it.
(Top photo: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images; design by Eamonn Dalton)
