Guardiola Disputes Red Card Decision in Club World Cup Victory

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has voiced his disagreement with the referee’s decision to issue a red card to Rico Lewis during their 2-0 triumph over Wydad AC on Wednesday. The victory marked Manchester City’s debut in the FIFA Club World Cup, where they secured a convincing win against Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca, fueled by first-half goals from Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku.

However, the match concluded on a sour note for City when defender Lewis received a booking following a challenge on Samuel Obeng.

Guardiola described Lewis’s dismissal as unfortunate, labeling the 20-year-old’s sending-off as an unnecessary red card.

Guardiola’s Explanation

“[Rico’s] leg was slightly elevated, but he was grounded. He connected with the ball at a high speed, necessitating a somewhat raised leg, while the other player was down,” Guardiola elaborated.

“There was no malicious intent, unlike the red card incident against Crystal Palace, where the referee later admitted it wasn’t a red card.

“Rico had no intention of causing harm. The red card was somewhat unwarranted. The referee holds authority and had differing views; VAR reviewed it, and we must respect the ruling.”

Lewis is now set to miss one game because of the suspension, although there’s a chance to appeal the ruling with FIFA, potentially leading to a harsher punishment if deemed necessary.

Wydad’s Obeng suggested that the incident could have warranted a red card and that Lewis should offer an apology.

Obeng’s Perspective

“It’s not my call, but I believe it could have been a red card since his intention wasn’t to plant his boot in my face, but he did make contact with his boot after the play,” Obeng of Wydad explained.

“I view it as a normal part of football; these things occur. He should apologize to me, not the other way around,” he concluded.