Soccer

Vincent Kompany could face further FA action

Man City captain accused of obscene gesture when leaving the field against Hull City

Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany argues with referee Lee Mason after being sent off during at the KC Stadium. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire
Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany argues with referee Lee Mason after being sent off during at the KC Stadium. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire
Sun Mar 16 2014 - 15:19

Vincent Kompany may face Football Association action for making an obscene hand gesture following his red card at Hull City that could rule the Manchester City captain out of the Manchester derby on March 25th.

The FA will wait to see if referee Lee Mason mentions an incident that appeared to feature Kompany making the gesture at the fourth official on leaving the field after pulling down Hull's Nikica Jelavic in the 10th minute of Saturday's 2-0 in which David Silva and Edin Dzeko scored.

If it does not feature in the report when the governing body receives it on Monday, the FA can act independently by studying video footage. Kompany is already banned for one match because of the incident.

Liverpool’s Luis Suarez received a one-game ban for a similar act at the close of a 1-0 defeat at Fulham in December 2011. Earlier this season Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere got a two-match sanction for a hand gesture aimed at City fans when his team were beaten 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium.

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Hull City's George Boyd could also face disciplinary action if the FA decides he deliberately spat at City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

The two players clashed during the fraught encounter when Hart squared up to Boyd after he went down in the penalty area, the England international accusing the Hull striker of diving.

The pair were separated following a heated exchange, and both players were defended by their respective managers.

City coach Manuel Pellegrini reckoned Hart must have had a good reason for confronting Boyd.

Pellegrini said: “For my position it was very difficult to see it because it was far away from my bench. If Joe reacts maybe the other player dived. I don’t know.”

But Hull boss Steve Bruce insisted his player did not dive.

Bruce said: “There’s a difference between simulation, diving, cheating, if you like, than trying to get out the road, and that’s what Boyd’s trying to do. I mean nobody’s going to stand there with Joe Hart hurtling at you. He’s going to try and get out the road which he tried to get out the road, stay on his feet and keep the ball in play.”

Guardian Service and Agencies