The booking, Guardiola’s sixth of the season, triggers a two-game suspension under the FA’s updated regulations, which stipulate that a manager receives a one-match ban for every three yellow cards and a two-match ban for a sixth. Guardiola was cautioned after confronting fourth official Lewis Smith at St James’ Park when Kieran Trippier fouled Jeremy Doku.
As a result, Guardiola will miss City’s Premier League clash with West Ham United on Saturday and their FA Cup quarter-final in early April. He will, however, be permitted on the touchline for the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal on March 22, as finals and certain play-off matches are exempt from automatic suspensions for accumulated cautions.
Speaking at a press conference, Guardiola addressed the suspension with a mix of humor and defiance: “We have all the records in this country… I want all records and now I have it. Two-game ban now and I will go on holidays the next two games. There are things after 10 years I cannot understand. Review the action. Of course I’m going to defend Doku and all my teams.”