Rico Lewis’s Suspension Update
Rico Lewis of Manchester City will be sidelined for two additional matches in the Club World Cup following an extension of his suspension due to a red card he received during a recent match against Wydad AC. Lewis missed the 6-0 victory over Al Ain this past Sunday, a game played in Atlanta, after being dismissed late in the previous match against Wydad, which City won 2-0 in Philadelphia.
The young defender was penalized for a challenge on Samuel Obeng, an incident that led manager Pep Guardiola to label the red card as ‘unnecessary.’
Details of the Suspension
Initially facing a one-match suspension, Lewis will now be out for a total of three games. This means he will also miss the crucial group stage match against Juventus scheduled for Thursday in Orlando, Florida, as well as Manchester City’s last-16 match-up. FIFA has formally announced this sanction, specifying that Lewis’s direct red card violated Article 14, Paragraph 1(e) of their disciplinary code.
Although Manchester City attempted to appeal the ruling, sources have confirmed that their efforts were unsuccessful. This leaves Guardiola with a challenging decision regarding player selection for the upcoming clash against Juventus, particularly as City seeks to clinch the top position in their group.
Impact on Team Selection
With Lewis being the sole natural right-back available, City’s options become limited. During the match against Al Ain, Abdukodir Khusanov filled the right-back position, while Manuel Akanji has also been deployed in that role. It is important to note that regular right-back Kyle Walker is absent from the squad as he navigates a potential transfer away from Manchester City.
Reports indicate that the team is considering the possibility of acquiring another right-back before the summer transfer window closes, with Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso reportedly on their radar.
