Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero ‘will face no retrospective action’ for grabbing shoulder of assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis during Arsenal win
- Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will not face action after Arsenal victory
- The forward grabbed the shoulder of assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis
- Pep Guardiola came to defence of the Argentine and said it was not aggressive
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero ‘will face no retrospective action’ for grabbing shoulder of assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis during Arsenal win, according to the Guardian.
The Argentine was arguing a throw-in decision given to Arsenal when he put his hand on her shoulder.
Pep Guardiola defended Aguero, insisting the striker’s action was clearly not aggressive. The City boss said: ‘Come on guys, Sergio is the nicest person I have met in my life. Look for problems in other situations, not in this one.’
Aguero was perhaps fortunate to escape unpunished after he grabbed her shoulder
Not everyone agreed with Guardiola, however, as Match of the Day pundit Ian Wright branded Aguero’s actions ‘unnecessary’ and ‘patronising’.
Former Premier League referee Chris Foy said: ‘The key words are ‘aggressive’ and ‘confrontational.’ The laws state, ‘it’s not unusual for players to come into contact with officials.
‘As long as this is done courteously and not in an aggressive or confrontational manner there is no requirement for a referee to take action’.
Massey-Ellis was the subject of sexist jibes which cost presenters Andy Gray and Richard Keys their jobs at Sky Sports in 2011.
Guardiola leapt to Aguero’s defence, claiming the Argentine is the ‘nicest person’ he’s ever met
