Pep Guardiola handed two-match touchline ban

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will serve an automatic two-match touchline suspension after receiving his sixth domestic yellow card of the 2025-26 campaign during Saturday’s 3-1 FA Cup win at Newcastle United.

The flashpoint came in the second half at St James’ Park when Guardiola angrily protested that winger Jeremy Doku had been hauled back by Kieran Trippier without punishment. Fourth official Lewis Smith bore the brunt of the Catalan’s fury, prompting referee Samuel Barrott to issue the caution that triggered the ban under newly introduced disciplinary rules.

Guardiola, renowned for his sardonic humour, greeted the sanction with tongue firmly in cheek. “We have all the records in this country, all of them, despite everything,” he told reporters. “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.”

The suspension sidelines the 53-year-old for the Premier League trip to West Ham United this weekend and City’s FA Cup quarter-final in early April. Assistant coaches will assume touchline responsibilities, though Guardiola retains the right to relay instructions from the stands.

Crucially, the ban does not extend to domestic cup finals or European fixtures. Guardiola will return to the technical area for the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley on 22 March and the Champions League quarter-final first leg versus Real Madrid.