Pep Guardiola has been a very naughty boy. In fact, he’s been a very naughty boy six times this season, meaning he will now serve a two-game touchline ban after being handed his sixth yellow card of the season.
The latest telling-off came during Manchester City’s win over Newcastle United in the FA Cup, after he angrily confronted fourth official Lewis Smith following a Kieran Trippier had foul on Jérémy Doku; referee Sam Barrott jogged over to reward his behaviour with double-time on the naughty step.
Managers must serve a one-game touchline ban for every three yellow cards they receive throughout the season, and new rules introduced this season quite logically mean a sixth yellow card results in a two-game ban.
The Catalan will now miss the Premier League game against relegation-threatened West Ham United, as well as the FA Cup quarter-final in early April.
However, due to a quirk in the rules that mean yellow card suspensions for technical staff don’t apply to cup finals, he will be allowed to sit in the dugout for the upcoming Carabao Cup showpiece event against Arsenal on March 22.
The coach was in a sarcastic mood in the aftermath of the game, saying he wanted “all the records” in England, including most red cards for a manager. He added that for his ban he “will go on holidays the next two games.”
Manchester City’s next game will certainly need Guardiola in the dugout, as they take on 15-time European champions Real Madrid in the continent’s elite competition.
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