Frustrated Copenhagen manager Jacob Neestrup has called on referees to red card players for scuffing the penalty spot like Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho.
After United conceded a 95th-minute penalty while leading 1-0 in their crucial Champions League group-stage clash, Garnacho was seen deliberately trodding on the spot in an attempt to give Copenhagen striker Jordan Larsson an unclean strike. Red Devils goalkeeper Andre Onana ultimately saved Larsson's effort, securing three much-needed points for Erik ten Hag's side and lifting the roof off a relieved Old Trafford, who'd feared the worst after Scott McTominay was penalised for a high foot.
But Garnacho's dark arts have been frowned upon, with former Arsenal midfielder Kim Kallstrom going as far as to label them "childish" and "baby-level." Copenhagen captain Viktor Claesson also described the 19-year-old's behaviour as "unsportsmanlike," while boss Neestrup suggested that there should be a deterrent to prevent players from doing the same.
"It is up to referees and associations to set limits," the 35-year-old manager affirmed in a post-match interview with VG, as quoted by Sport Witness. "All you have to do is give a red card for something like that, then people stop doing it."
Experienced striker Claesson echoed Neestrup's sentiment when speaking to Danish outlet Bold, declaring: "It's unsportsmanlike. It's not something I stand for or would do, but if he's done it, he's done it. I don't think that was what decided whether he missed or scored."
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United boss Ten Hag maintains that he didn't see the incident and presumed Italian referee Marco Guida hadn't either. Arsenal flop Kallstrom certainly did and stated while working as a pundit for Swedish network TV4 Play, as quoted by Expressen: "What an ugly type... That's so childish. It's such a baby-level thing."
Have your say! Should Alejandro Garnacho be punished for scuffing the spot? Give us your verdict in the comments section.
Footage showed Alejandro Garnacho deliberately trodding on the penalty spot (TNT Sports)Presenter Olof Lundh responded by claiming that Garnacho should be reprimanded for his behaviour by UEFA. "This is the kind of thing you want to be able to punish afterwards," Lundh stated.
The Argentina international did, however, receive plaudits from some sections of the Red Devils' fan base, who praised his gamesmanship. Garnacho had come off the bench in the 63rd minute as a replacement for Antony, as teammate Harry Maguire's second-half header eventually condemned Copenhagen to a narrow defeat, giving United their first points of the Champions League campaign after another below-par performance.
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