Pep Guardiola spent the second half of Manchester City’s 2-1 UEFA Champions League defeat to Liverpool last Tuesday relegated to the stands, and he could be facing an extended stay off the sideline in European competition.
Multiple outlets reported that Guardiola was charged on Wednesday by UEFA for improper conduct after allegedly verbally abusing the match official, a fellow Spaniard Antonio Mateu. It’s unclear what Guardiola said, but it was enough for him to have been sent off at halftime of Liverpool’s massive win.
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If proven, Guardiola could face another touch-line ban in next year’s Champions League, as he looks to take Man City to the top of Europe.
Liverpool was also charged by UEFA after its fans set off fireworks and threw objects onto the pitch at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola’s alleged transgression didn’t exactly impact the game. Liverpool went on to score again in the second half and admirably defend the waves of Man City attacks, while the hosts failed to capitalize on their chances and seemed out of ideas. But if Guardiola is given a one-or-two-game touchline ban, it likely won’t affect Man City that much in next year’s Champions League, unless they end up in a group with a massive club and one of the big group stage games takes place at the beginning of the tournament.