Joe Prince-Wright
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has been handed a three-match ban from UEFA for misconduct, one of which is suspended for two years, after his post-match outburst against Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson following City’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to FC Barcelona earlier this month.
Pellegrini claimed Eriksson had “not been impartial” after awarding Barcelona a penalty, sending off defender Martin Demichelis and making several calls against the Chilean managers side. Pellergini, 60, also claimed that Eriksson made those calls after he’d come under previous scrutiny for decision made against Barcelona when they played AC Milan earlier in the tournament.
Comments like those were always going to land Pellegrini in hot water, despite his sincere apology following the heated tirade against the Swedish official, and on Friday UEFA charged him with the ban as he is not allowed on the touchline or in the dressing room during City’s trip to Barcelona on March 12. He can only be present in the stand and have no communication with the bench.
In a statement UEFA said the following:
“UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body has banned Manchester City FC head coach Manuel Pellegrini for three Uefa competition games, one of which is under probation for two years. The sanction is due to the coach’s press statements and violation of the general principles of conduct under Article 11 of the 2013 Uefa Disciplinary Regulations (DR) at the Uefa Champions League round-of-16 first leg between Manchester City and FC Barcelona on 18 February in England.”
As we mentioned Pellegrini apologized to referee Eriksson and the people of Sweden, who he inadvertently offended, so an appeal against his ban isn’t expected.
Source: NBC Sports
