Pep Guardiola insisted that the reaction of his Manchester City players toward referee Simon Hooper was human nature after the FA charged the Premier League champions for failing to control their players.
Hooper decided against giving advantage when Jack Grealish bore down on goal in the dying moments of Sunday’s 3-3 draw with Tottenham.
Erling Haaland, with his eyes bulging, and Ruben Dias were among those to crowd the referee and City are facing a fine of more than £75,000 for a third breach in under a year.