Kyle Walker was restrained by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during their 3-1 victory against Everton on Wednesday night.
The Cityzens, who have suffered a drop off in form of late, battled back back after Jack Harrison put the hosts a goal up in the first half, before Phil Foden scored from outside the penalty area to bring City level.
Julian Alvarez would put the visitors 2-1 up from the penalty spot, after referee John Brooks awarded a controversial hand ball against Everton midfielder Amadou Onana, which Sean Dyche blasted as ‘nonesnse’.
Despite that, the Toffees pressed for a winner and frustrated the Premier League champions, with tensions growing around Goodison Park on both sides.
With around 13 minutes left of normal time, Bernardo Silva was brought to ground in a robust challenge by Jarrod Branthwaite, with the Portuguese midfielder knocking the ball out of play. Dyche’s assistant, Ian Woan, collected the ball and refused to give it to Walker, who was looking to restart play quickly.
Kyle Walker was restrained by Pep Guardiola after the defender clashed with Everton Coach Ian Woan during Man City’s 3-1 win at Goodison Park
The incident came after Sean Dyche’s assistant had refused to give Walker the ball
Walker had pushed the assistant, but Woan shoved him back, infuriating thefull-back
Walker is seen giving the 56-year-old a small push in a bid to get the ball back for his side, before the Toffees coach throws the ball onto the pitch.
But Woan, incensed by Walkers behaviour, was then seen on Amazon Prime Sport’s coverage, shoving the defender in the back.
Infuriated by the push, Walker turns around and steps forward to confront the Everton coach, but Guardiola swiftly grabs his player before dragging him away from the altercation.
Neither were booked for the confrontation, with Guardiola appearing to gesture towards Woan after the altercation had blown over.
Walker had notably been involved in an altercation during their Club World Cup final match against Fluminense last week.
He clashed with Felipe Melo after the match, after the Brazilian had criticised Jack Grealish for being disrespectful during the game.
He took to Instagram to write: ‘No one starts on my Jack!’
City went on to score a third, with Bernardo Silva taking advantage of a poor clearance from Jordan Pickford, dinking the ball into the back of the net from long-range.
After the match, the main controversy surrounded the penalty decision which referee John Brooks awarded against Everton.
Dyche said in a press conference on Thursday: ‘Like I said afterwards, if that is a penalty, then Onana should be a goalkeeper, and he must have some reflexes to get his arm up to stop that if it was deliberate, and I know deliberate doesn’t count anymore.
Guardiola (right) was seen swiftly stepping in to split up the pair and diffuse the tension
The Spanish manager subsequently pushed walker back onto the pitch, quelling the tension
Walker was involved in a spat with Felipe Melo (right) at the Club World Cup final last week
‘It is all nonsense; at the end of the day, it should go back to the old days; if it is deliberate, you can tell. Referees, that is why they are referees. They have the experience and feel of a game, knowledge of a game, or should do.
‘The other frustration is who is giving what. After the situation at Tottenham, I said, ‘Who is giving what?’ The linesman gives this one, who is 50 yards away, and the referee is 12 yards away.
‘I don’t see that, and we have just had the opposite happen at Tottenham, as you know, so I think it is more the confusion. I think they are under enough scrutiny anyway, referees, and they are on about putting microphones on them and mad stuff. I don’t know why.
‘I think we should be taking it away, allowing them to referee the game, and give them a bit more use of their knowledge. Last night, I would be amazed if most referees, deep down, went that can’t be a penalty. I would be surprised if all of them would anyway.’
