Manchester City’s Victory and Controversial Red Card
In the wake of Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Wydad AC in Philadelphia, manager Pep Guardiola voiced his concerns regarding Rico Lewis’ red card in the 88th minute, labeling it as an “unnecessary” call by the referee. City initiated their Club World Cup journey on a positive note, securing the win through early goals by Phil Foden and Jérémy Doku.
Incident Leading to Lewis’ Dismissal
The match’s conclusion, however, was marred by the ejection of Lewis, who was sent off for a tackle on Samuel Obeng. Although Lewis initially made contact with the ball, he inadvertently struck Obeng in the face during the follow-through. Commenting on the incident, Guardiola drew parallels with Lewis’ prior red card in a Premier League match against Crystal Palace last December, where he was similarly dismissed for a challenge that many believed was unjust. In that earlier incident, replays indicated that the foul originated from the other player catching Lewis instead, yet VAR could not intervene due to the nature of the offense.
Guardiola reflected on the latest dismissal, stating, “Rico’s leg was a bit high, but he was on the grass. With the speed involved, it’s easy for your leg to elevate and end up touching the other player.” He added that the red card seemed excessive and mentioned the referee’s authority in making decisions, even when he had previously suggested the challenge was not a red card.
Lewis will face an automatic one-match suspension for the incident, although there remains a possibility for FIFA to review and possibly enhance the punishment based on their assessment. Obeng, the player involved, expressed that while he understood the referee’s decision, he felt it was an unfortunate situation.
“He touched me with his boot, but it wasn’t intentional. He should apologize to me,”
he noted.
Guardiola’s Reflections and Player Updates
During this match, Guardiola took the opportunity to offer debuts to new signings Tijani Reinders and Ryan Cherki, and also welcomed Rodri back onto the pitch for 30 minutes—his most extensive playtime since undergoing knee surgery in September. Guardiola affirmed Rodri’s progress, emphasizing the importance of building his fitness gradually after such a prolonged absence.
“He needs to be patient and not rush, as it takes time to regain full form after major injuries,”
Guardiola remarked.
As for Reinders, the manager expressed optimism about his potential, describing him as a talented player with a promising future in the squad, especially once he acclimatizes fully to the team’s rhythm.
