Pep Guardiola handed touchline ban for Manchester City’s first Champions League game next season after he was sent off during Liverpool last-eight tie
- Pep Guardiola handed a touchline ban for Manchester City’s first European tie
- The City boss will likely serve one of the two-game suspension next season
- The second match would be deferred during a ‘probationary period’
- He was given the ban after being sent off in the last-eight clash with Liverpool
Pep Guardiola will be banned from the touchline for Manchester City’s first Champions League game next season.
The City boss was handed a two-match suspension from the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on Monday after he was sent to the stands during his side’s defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals in April.
The Spaniard is only likely to serve one game of the two-match ban after the governing body ruled that the second match would be deferred during a ‘probationary period’.
Pep Guardiola will be banned from the touchline for Man City’s first Champions League game
Guardiola (3rd row, left) was sent to the stands during City’s last-eight clash with Liverpool
Guardiola was dismissed at half-time during the last eight tie at the Etihad in April for remonstrating with Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz after he disallowed Leroy Sane’s legitimate effort for offside.
The 47-year-old, who had to watch the second half from the directors’ box as City slipped to a 5-1 aggregate defeat, insisted he would accept his punishment but said he would react the same way again, despite acknowledging it is better that he didn’t.
Guardiola was sent to the stands for remonstrating with Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz
Guardiola was sent to the stands for arguing with the referee as the half-time whistle blew
‘It would definitely be better but I am who I am,’ said Guardiola following the result.
‘I am a human being. I have passion. I try to defend my team and my club. When I see that people don’t do what they have to do, I have to defend my team. They deserve that they don’t feel they are alone.
‘I went there to take care of the players because they were talking with the referee. I didn’t want a yellow card for them, and then they’re out.
Pep was given the suspension by The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Board on Monday
‘In that moment, I said what I said. It was a good goal. He told me that if it was in the dressing-room then nothing would have happened, but it’s not allowed on the pitch in front of the spectators. Okay, that’s the difference.
‘I prefer to be with my players than my chairman, but it’s the decision of the referee. Of course, it’s better for the manager to be there, I cannot deny that.
This season’s Premier League winners will be placed in pot one ahead of the draw for the Champions League group stages at the end of August.
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