So, it all kicked off last night, didn’t it?
In a moment that can only be described as #TheMagicOfTheCup, Will Griggs fired home to take Wigan through to the next round of the FA Cup and plunge Manchester City out of the tournament.
Pep Guardiola – usually known as one of football’s nice guy – was even involved in a bust-up with Wigan manager Paul Cook during the match.
The outburst came after referee Anthony Taylor sent-off Fabian Delph for a dangerous tackle on Max Power just before the half-time whistle. The two managers were separated by staff from both clubs, and former Sunderland manager Peter Reid even popped up in the bizarre footage.
As we wrote yesterday, the City manager has made it his personal mission this season to call attention to the number of dangerous tackles that players get away with on a regular basis. So the fact he was so incensed by the decision was a bit hypocritical.
But that wasn’t the only hypocrisy fans rival felt the incident showcased, they also pointed out that the coverage and response to the Guardiola meltdown may have been a lot different had it been another manager.
Manchester United fans especially were angry at BBC’s pundits tame response to the incident, given the criticism and bans Jose Mourinho has been on the receiving end of in the past.
our manager kicked water bottle and got a ban for 3 games, the city manager is pushing and punching and this so-called football pundit are calling it normal. Where is FA now? #FACup #mufc #manutd #WIGMCI #Aguero #MCFC #mourinho #Guardiola
— Sagar Poudyal (@Sagar_redevil) February 20, 2018
Its Official!!!
The English Press is in love with Guardiola.
The headline would have been different were it to Mourinho, Conte or Wenger
— Legendary (@_olamide9) February 20, 2018
Mourinho would have been drawn and quartered if he behaved like Guardiola did against Wigan. But the press will probably not even mention this kind of behaviour. #MUFC
— (Y = mX+c) | مشرك (@kirangokarn) February 20, 2018
In the wake of pep guardiola's misdemeanor and the possible inaction by the @FA here's a throwback of Jose mourinho getting sent off for a toe crossing the line against Southampton earlier in the season pic.twitter.com/nS6FizFcP2
— Kavi 🍉 (@blurt2kc) February 20, 2018
Looks like the #Guardiola love in is still in full swing, this quote only picked up by one national paper, imagine if #Mourinho had said that… #mufc pic.twitter.com/tAA07dgiB3
— Darren Hill (@iDarrenHill) February 20, 2018
So, Pep "Baldie" Guardiola's good guy mask has fallen. Will The FA ban him now or are those sanctions only reserved for Jose Mourinho?
— Feroze Khan (@funtabulousfez) February 20, 2018