Pep Guardiola rose to the defense of Sergio Aguero once more amid the backlash from the Manchester City star touching a lineswoman.
Aguero found himself in the firing line upon placing his hand on a female assistant referee, Sian Massey-Ellis, in Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Arsenal last weekend.
The incident occurred before half-time, where Massey-Ellis signaled a throw-in for Arsenal. Aguero, though, didn’t agree and approached her. He gripped her shoulder before his arm brushed across her back, prompting the lineswoman to swat it away.
Former Premier League stars Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, and Gary Neville have condemned Aguero’s actions.
The clip of Aguero putting his hand on Sian Massey-Ellis is so wrong for sooo many reasons:
❌ You don't touch the ref in any sport
❌ You never grab someone by their neck (just why? Why?!?)
❌ And besides those two common rules…he would never do it with a male ref🤷🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/5UoW74BrB2
— David Eeckhout (@EeckhoutDavid) October 18, 2020
Had Massey-Ellis complained, however, Guardiola insists the Argentine would’ve apologized for his conduct.
“I didn’t speak to Sergio about this, but I’m pretty sure if she felt bad, he will apologize without a problem,” said the City boss as quoted on Goal.
“All the people looking from outside judge, but I know the intention from Sergio. Sergio put his hands in a normal way, like he does many times to me, on or off the pitch.
“Or when I hug him, when there is a substitution, or when sometimes he touches the referee as well or an opponent.
“If I’d seen some aggression, maybe. But I think it was normal as I know him perfectly. He’s been a huge star in the world, but he’s humble, one of the nicest people I’ve met.
“What is important is his intention, and his intention was normal, to talk to her in a normal way. It was not a bad word, it was just normal.”
Aguero and City will be in action on Saturday afternoon for a trip to West Ham United in the Premier League (13:30 – CET).
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