Haaland Refuses Penalty, Man City Fails in FA Cup Final

In the FA Cup final held at Wembley Stadium, Manchester City suffered a surprising 0-1 defeat to Crystal Palace. The match saw an unexpected moment of hesitation from Erling Haaland, who refused to take a penalty that could have changed the course of the game.

Eze strikes early, Haaland hands over penalty

Eberechi Eze gave Crystal Palace the lead in the 16th minute with a composed finish. Later, in the 33rd minute, Bernardo Silva was brought down in the box, earning City a chance to equalize from the penalty spot.

Surprisingly, Haaland — usually the club’s first-choice penalty taker — opted out and handed the responsibility to Omar Marmoush. The decision raised eyebrows, and unfortunately for City, Dean Henderson saved Marmoush’s shot, preserving Palace’s lead.

Haaland’s moment of humanity

The incident reminded fans that Erling Haaland, often compared to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, is still human. His refusal sparked debate, as many questioned the confidence and mindset of City’s top striker in a critical moment.