Firstly, after the initial defeat against Lyon on match day one, City have cruised to the top of Group F and look good to progress with a victory in France at the end of the month securing top spot. Analysis of the demolition of the Ukranian side by our boys in blue was somewhat brushed under the carpet in favor of a critique of Raheem Sterling.
Pundits and commentators from various sports radio stations spoke of how the England winger should have corrected the referees decision. Really? For the record I don't think it was a penalty and made comments as such at the time of the incident. However I would have been furious had Raheem chased after the referee in order to reverse the decision.
While it is possible, given the way City attacked from the beginning, the home side were always going to win the fixture it was not certain at that point. Remember the penalty was awarded, and then converted, with more than a quarter of the game already gone. Attempts from Zinchenko and Gabby Jesus had both been saved while the score was still level.
Even after David Silva had put us ahead, Bernardo Silva saw an attempt saved. When the half time whistle blew, Manchester City only had a second goal cushion thanks to that penalty. My question is whether these pundits would have been in such a rush for Raheem to 'be honest' if it was a similar situation but he was in an England shirt?
Certainly a debatable penalty won by Uniteds Jesse Lingard against Paraguay wasn't questioned, even though it could be said he went down easy. Against a side England were never going to lose against with the same scoreline and happening at a similar time in the game, I don't remember pundits saying anything critical at the time.
For me it was simply a referee error, and one which Raheem has no business rectifying. The referee, Viktor Kassai, has been a FIFA listed referee since 2003 and officiated the 2011 Champions League Final between Pep Guardiola's Barcelona and Manchester United, at Wembley. He also refereed the Euro 2012 fixture between England and the Ukraine, both sides nations from last night ironically. It was that game which propelled the need for the sport to introduce goal line technology after an English defender cleared the ball from BEHIND the goal line. Eventually going on to win by a single goal, England progressed as Group winners.
John Terry clearing the ball from behind the goal line didn't run to the referee and say it was a goal and should be allowed, even though a draw would still have seen England qualify. Pundits in the studio for one broadcast hosted by Adrian Chiles, included Gareth Southgate, Steve McManaman and Roy Keane. None of the quartet said Terry should have held his hands up and all instead put the blame on the official on the goal line.
As then, I agree with that line of thinking. It is not up to the player to correct a referee and to do so could end up with punishment. Instead VAR could have been part of the makeup for the game, which is meant to be part of Europe's elite club competition. Had that been the case we wouldn't even be having this discussion.
Another question has to be the positioning of the officials during the game. Does it really make sense to have the official behind the goal to be on the same side of the pitch as the linesman? Had that official been on the opposite side then he certainly would have had a much better view of the incident. Similar can be said if the linesman was on the opposite side, he would have the chance to assist the referee in making a correct decision.
Make no mistake, the criticism of Raheem comes because it is Raheem and Manchester City and no nostalgic sense of sportsmanship. It is no coincidence that this follows the narrative run by the sports media that Manchester City have 'bought' their success and do not 'play fair'. Despite all the most expensive players in each position playing in the Premier League, play for other English sides. It has nothing to do with financial doping or a 'dishonest' Raheem though. Manchester City have ruffled the elites feathers and are doing it with some of the best, and most beautiful football being played right now.
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