Will Pep Guardiola be in dugout for Carabao Cup final against Arsenal after touchline ban? | OneFootball

Manchester City boss hit with two-game ban after sixth booking of season

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been hit with a two-game touchline ban after being shown his sixth yellow card of the season in Saturday’s 3-1 FA Cup win against Newcastle.

His ban comes two weeks before Manchester City face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup Final on March 22.

That game at Wembley could also have huge implications in the title race, with the two rivals looking to land a psychological blow ahead of the run-in.

Guardiola was booked after confronting the fourth official at St James’ Park

AFP via Getty Images

New rules introduced this season mean Premier League managers are banned for one game after three yellow cards, while six bookings result in a two-match suspension.

But Guardiola will be in the dugout when City face Arsenal at Wembley because his ban only applies to Premier League and FA Cup games.

It means Guardiola will be banned for Saturday's Premier League game away at West Ham and City's FA Cup quarter-final clash on the weekend of April 4-5.

The ban does not apply to the Champions League, so Guardiola will be on the bench for both legs of City’s blockbuster last-16 showdown with Real Madrid.

Guardiola said of his angry reaction that led to his booking: “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 it, two-game ban now and I will go on holidays the next two games.

“There are things after 10 years I cannot understand. Review the action. Of course I'm going to defend Doku and all my teams.”