IN THE DOCK
Fuming Pep charged by UEFA
PEP GUARDIOLA’S miserable week got worse when UEFA charged him with improper conduct last night.
It follows his dismissal to the stands after he angrily confronted referee Antonio Lahoz at half-time of Manchester City’s Champions League exit to Liverpool on Tuesday. The City boss was furious at Lahoz’s decision to disallow a goal for Leroy Sane that replays showed should have stood.
The charge is for communicating with the bench during the second half – Guardiola was caught by TV sending instructions to his coaching staff via a messenger. Article 69 of
UEFA’s disciplinary regulations states that any manager or coach sent off may not communicate “directly or indirectly with the team’s players and/or technical staff during the match”. The case will be heard on May 31 and Guardiola is set to be punished with a one-game touchline ban from the opening group game in the Champions League next season and a fine.
City midfielder Bernardo Silva appealed to UEFA to bring in the video assistant referee next season following the game.
In an Instagram message he wrote: “Champions League – could you guys start using the VAR system next season? It might be useful.” And Gabriel Jesus claimed that had the Sane goal been given it could have changed the course of the tie.
He admits three defeats in a week have marred City’s campaign but urged team-mates to pick themselves up and wrap up the League in record-breaking style.
“It’s difficult because the last three defeats overshadow what we have been doing all season,” he said. “We must keep our heads up because we weren’t knocked out playing badly. We had a goal disallowed. It could have changed the script.
“Nobody likes to lose but we must keep our heads up because we were knocked out by a great club and a great team. We have no regrets and we don’t have time to regret either.
“In football, you don’t have time for that, as we have another great game [at Tottenham] on Saturday. We must focus on the last part of the Premier League to wrap up the title.”
UEFA has also charged Liverpool after fireworks were set off and objects thrown inside the Etihad.
The club are already facing four charges over the setting off of fireworks, throwing of objects, acts of damage and crowd disturbances after City’s team bus was attacked outside Anfield prior to the first leg.