Pellegrini Suspended for 2 UEFA Games Due to Comments over Barcelona loss
Manager of Manchester City, Manuel Pellegrini will serve a two-game touchline suspension in Europe for criticising referee Jonas Eriksson after Manchester City’s Champions League loss to Spanish giants, Barcelona.
After Man City lost 0-2 to Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, a match which saw City’s Martin Demichelis sent off, Pellegrini accused the Swedish official of being partial to Barcelona, saying:
“I think there is more important football in Europe than Sweden. A big game with two important teams – that kind of game needs a referee with more experience. This referee whistled the Barcelona-Milan game and he made an important error against Barcelona. Today he remedied it.
“Yes, Barça had a lot of the ball but they had it where we wanted. They were not near our area so they did not create in our area. The referee from the beginning did not give a good impression. There was a penalty, we had one player less but the team played with courage.”
Pellegrini went on to apologize afterwards but that could not save him from suspension as he will not be on the bench when his side faces the Spanish Chamipons at Camp Nou on the 12th of March as he will not be allowed to communicate directly or indirectly with his players or coaching staff during the game.
