Former referee Keith Hackett has had his say on Pep Guardiola’s touchline ban after Manchester City manager received his sixth yellow card of the season
Former referee Keith Hackett reckons Pep Guardiola has little reason to grumble after receiving a yellow card against Newcastle United. The Manchester City boss copped a two-match suspension following a sixth booking of the campaign, though this won’t extend to the Carabao Cup final.
Guardiola felt Jeremy Doku ought to have been given a free-kick after being clipped by his marker, but referee Sam Barrott dismissed the protests. The ruling triggered a furious response from the City chief, landing him a caution.
He will now be compelled to observe from the stands for the Premier League fixture at West Ham next Saturday, along with the FA Cup quarter-final in the opening weekend of April.
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Discussing the episode, Hackett maintained managers understand the disciplinary regulations as plainly as players do.
“If you’re brandishing yellow cards, there has to be a deterrent, just like there is for players, who are banned after five cautions,” he told Football Insider. “At the start of the season, clubs see these regulations.”
“They can interject and say it’s unacceptable. But once the season starts and you break that criterion, you get suspended.
“If Guardiola is unaware, someone at Man City might have whispered in his ear, asking if he realises that he’ll get done with another yellow card. There’s a cynical element within the game, and Guardiola is making a point.
“It’s no different to the calls I got from Arsene Wenger during his time at Arsenal. Referees must protect players, and some skilful players are not protected.
“The danger here is that we don’t see what Guardiola sees, and that’s the outcome of the challenges on his players.”
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Looking back on that moment, Guardiola said: “When Jeremy Doku dribbles past Trippier and goes alone to the box and is being pulled from behind, I’m not asking for a yellow card but please – it’s a foul. I will defend my team. We have all the records in this country – all of them.
“Despite everything, we have all of them. And we have the record of the manager with the most yellow cards. I have always wanted this record and now I have it. Two games banned now and I will go on holiday.”
He continued: “Oh my god. Oh, my, God. There are things that still after ten years I cannot understand. Review the action, review the action. Of course I’m going to defend Doku, and all my teams. They continue to do it.”
Earlier in the campaign, the 55-year-old sat out a one-match suspension after collecting three yellow cards.
His third caution, received against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League, forced him to observe the FA Cup third-round clash against Exeter City from the stands as the Blues cruised to a 10-1 victory.
