Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was sent to the stands for arguing with the referee, per BBC Sport, during Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Liverpool.
Guardiola was sent off after complaining to the referee as the clubs walked off the pitch at the half, per Fox Soccer:
Pep Guardiola was sent off after the first half. Man City will need to stage the comeback with their manager in the stands. https://t.co/sWFHN1AWIu
Manchester City came into the contest down 3-0 on aggregate, though they scored a first-half goal and had a second goal disallowed after Leroy Sane was controversially ruled offside, drawing the ire of Guardiola and the City supporters.
Should Man City be up 2-0? Sane is judged to be offside, though it appears to be Milner who plays the ball forward. 🤔 https://t.co/zMyXP8v1aG
Guardiola and referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz have a history, according to James Ducker of the Telegraph:
“Guardiola was furious at Lahoz’s failure to award Sergio Aguero a penalty in the first leg of City’s 5-3 Champions League Round of 16 win over Monaco last season and instead book the Argentina striker for diving under a challenge from goalkeeper Danijel Subasic.
“Lahoz awarded Monaco a penalty in the same game that was missed by Radamel Falcao and City ended up losing the second leg 3-1 to exit the competition on away goals.”
Guardiola recounted the moment last week.
“I remember what happened last year,” he said. “It was 1-1 at home to Monaco when there was a clear penalty on Aguero and what should have been a red card, but the Spanish referee [Lahoz] didn’t call it. We went from a possible 2-1 lead to 2-1 deficit. These types of situations are very important.”
As for Tuesday, Guardiola didn’t appear to be enjoying his time in the stands, per AS English:
Guardiola muttering, cursing and generally looking utterly miserable in the stands.
Liverpool ultimately won the matchup 5-1 in aggregate.
While Manchester City’s Champions League campaign didn’t go as planned, the club has all but clinched a Premier League title, holding a 13-point advantage over second-place Manchester United with just six matches remaining.
So City will have their title, but it won’t be coming in Europe.
Pep Guardiola Sent off During UCL Match vs. Liverpool for Arguing with Ref – Bleacher Report
