Pep Guardiola kisses fourth official’s cheek after reprimand
Pep Guardiola brought some levity to the sidelines during Manchester City’s 1-1 tie with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, sharing a peculiar moment with fourth official Craig Pawson. City had initially gone ahead with Erling Haaland’s goal in the ninth minute and appeared set for a win before Arsenal equalized late in the match. Toward the end, Guardiola engaged in a spirited dialogue with Pawson on the touchline. Instead of letting the reprimand bother him, the City manager unexpectedly leaned in and kissed Pawson on the cheek. The official recoiled, briefly surprised yet smiling, before continuing with his responsibilities, while Guardiola laughed with his hands positioned on his hips – both evidently appreciating the humor of the situation. Pep Guardiola just kissed the fourth official and he added 7 minutes additional time #ARSMCIpic.twitter.com/oueveR8P8R— Austine ✪ (@Austinooffical) September 21, 2025. However, Guardiola’s smile was short-lived. Shortly after, when Pawson announced seven minutes of stoppage time, City conceded in the dying moments. Gabriel Martinelli equalized for Arsenal, skillfully chipping Gianluigi Donnarumma to level the score against Haaland’s opening goal. The outcome signifies that Arsenal has not lost their last five Premier League encounters with City. In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Guardiola commended his team’s determination. “Today we played against a strong squad,” he stated. “Kudos to our team for their perseverance. It’s very challenging when your high pressing isn’t effective; the buildup always proves difficult. We made a few transitions. I believe the result is just. Overall, Arsenal performed better.” However, there was no mention of the kiss. Poor Craig Pawson. READ THE LATEST FASHION, CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE CONTENT FROM 90MIN
Published: 2025-09-23 11:55:00
source: www.90min.com
