Guardiola frustrated with FIFA decision to extend Rico Lewis ban – and reveals Man City injury blow | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hit out at FIFA for extending Rico Lewis’ ban following his red card against Wydad AC.

City defender Lewis was sent off in the dying moments of the Citizens’ 2-0 win over the Moroccan side in their opening match of the Club World Cup. The 20-year-old was given an automatic one match ban, but it has now been extended by a further two games as a FIFA disciplinary committee ruled the tackle was “serious foul play”.

Guardiola’s side are already guaranteed a place in the knockout stages of the competition after winning both their group matches so far, but the Catalan voiced his frustrations at the decision.

“I don’t know the boss for the referees, Collina? I didn’t have the honour to talk to him,” Guardiola said. “I am pretty sure the referee doesn’t know Rico. Sometimes as a defender you have to be more aggressive but both on the floor and the reaction.

“I know it could be tough. It is Rico Lewis, I can imagine what would happen with another type of player. It is what it is, three games and he can be with his girlfriend and hopefully be back for the next games if we go through.

“I know Rico and the intention was never to hurt anyone. If FIFA want to show how huge they are, send me three games and we move forward.”

Lewis had already served the first match of his ban after missing City’s 6-0 win over UAE side Al Ain, but will now be on the sidelines for their final group stage match against Juventus and their round of 16 clash.

Claudio Echeverri, who scored his first goal for City against Al Ain with a superb free-kick into the top right corner, was forced off at half-time with an ankle injury and is now expected to miss the rest of the tournament, meanwhile.

“Problems in the ankle, two three weeks out,” Guardiola said. “Unfortunately. I feel so sorry for him. We will play new players and in the next game too and in the second half.

“The selection has that in mind. In these conditions we are not ready to play 90 minutes and at half-time we will make substitutions.

“The heat is obvious. We can’t change it. It’s better to change at the Atlanta stadium which is fantastic. All the teams have to handle it. The next World Cup, people know it already. We have to be ready to suffer.”