Kyle Walker blames referee for Arsenal's equaliser scored by Calafiori

Much has been said on Calafiori's goal in the Man City v Arsenal clash on Sunday. The goal sparked controversy as referee Micheal Oliver let Arsenal play an early free kick after pulling Kyle Walker out of position to speak to him. The defender was not allowed time to get back into position before Calafiori netted an outside-of-the-box stunner to give Arsenal the equaliser, puting the scoreline at 1-1 after 22 minutes played.

Speaking post-match, the full-back gave his take on the goal, insisitng that he was not given the chance to return to position. “I’m not ever going to come on national TV, national radio and start slagging people off because there’s enough of that going on around in the world,” Walker said.

“What I’m saying is I’ve not gone over to the referee. Me and Bukayo (Saka) have not gone over to the referee – he’s called us over. So if I’m being called over to the referee, he then should wait and allow me to get back in position before the ball is then gone over my head," he added. "So if I go over to the referee by my own accord and I’m out of position, it’s my fault. But I’m in position, he’s called the two captains obviously to calm the players down. I’m walking back saying, ‘Lads, concentrate, nothing stupid, make sure we get through this’. The ball is then going over my head".

On Micheal Oliver the 34-year-old said: “Me and Mike have a very good relationship and I think he has a very hard job, especially at the top level. So that’s not me being critical of him. I know he has a hard enough job, he’s got 22 angry players screaming at him continuously. If he calls me over, if I go over of my own accord, fair enough. But for him to call both captains over and then not let me get back in position... If I was a goalkeeper, does he let me get back in my net? Of course. I’m a defender, I’m the first line of defence he should let me get back in and be set and then blow the whistle," he concluded.

Kyle Walker was not the only one to voice his disapproval with the refereeing, as Pep Guardiola has not held back on the criticism. The City boss backed his captain in that it he was not at fault and threatenig that players will not go to talk to the referee following Sunday's events.

 

September 23, 2024