Pep Guardiola will serve a two-match touchline ban after receiving a yellow card during Manchester City’s FA Cup win over Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
The booking was Guardiola’s sixth of the season and automatically triggered a suspension under Football Association regulations.
The City manager was cautioned after a heated exchange with fourth official Lewis Smith. The flashpoint came when Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier brought down City winger Jeremy Doku, prompting Guardiola’s protest on the touchline. Referee Sam Barrott issued the yellow card shortly afterwards.
Guardiola was also seen applauding sarcastically after Omar Marmoush scored to make it 3-1 during the match.
Under current rules, managers receive a one-match touchline ban after every three yellow cards. New regulations introduced this season mean that a sixth caution results in a two-match suspension.
As a result, Guardiola will not be on the touchline when City face West Ham United in the Premier League next weekend. He will also miss City’s FA Cup quarter-final scheduled for the first weekend of April.
However, the suspension will not affect the Carabao Cup Final on March 22 between Manchester City and Arsenal. FA guidelines exempt finals from automatic touchline bans linked to accumulated cautions.
Guardiola will therefore be free to take his place in the dugout for that fixture. The ban also does not apply to the UEFA Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
Speaking about the suspension, Guardiola said, “I will tell you something, we have all the records in this country, all of them, despite everything. We have the record of the manager with the most yellow cards. I want all records and now I have them.
“Two-game ban now and I will go on holidays the next two games. There are things that I cannot understand after 10 years.
“Review the action. Of course, I’m going to defend Doku and all my teams.”
