Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has voiced his frustration over the referee’s handling of Arsenal’s first goal in their recent match. Walker claims that he was out of position because the referee called him over, which contributed to Arsenal taking advantage of the situation. The England international shared his views in an interview with the BBC, calling for fairer treatment in such scenarios.
Walker Explains the Situation
Kyle Walker detailed how the incident unfolded, explaining that both he and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka were summoned by the referee. “I’ve not gone over to the referee. Me and Bukayo have not gone over – he’s called us over,” Walker said. The two players were being spoken to in an effort to calm tensions between both teams, and Walker believes this directly impacted his defensive duties.
“He Should Have Let Me Get Back in Position”
Walker argued that after being called over, the referee should have allowed him time to return to his defensive position before restarting the game. “If I’m being called over, he should wait and allow me to get back in position before the ball is then over my head,” Walker remarked. He further explained that if he had gone over by his own decision, the responsibility would have been on him, but he was following the referee’s instructions.
Comparison to Goalkeepers
In a striking analogy, Walker compared his situation to that of a goalkeeper being allowed to get back into their net before play resumes. “If I was a goalkeeper, does he let me get back in my net? Of course. I’m a defender, I’m the first line of defence, he should let me get back in and be set and then blow the whistle,” Walker said. The Manchester City right-back believes defenders should be granted the same respect, especially when called away from their position by the referee.
Kyle Walker’s comments highlight his belief that the referee’s decision played a key role in Arsenal’s first goal. He argued that the game should have been paused until he was allowed to return to his defensive position, suggesting that similar rules should apply to defenders as they do to goalkeepers in such situations.
Summary
Kyle Walker criticizes referee for calling him away before Arsenal’s goal.
Believes he should have been allowed to return to his position.
Compares situation to a goalkeeper being allowed to get back into the net.