FIFA Hands Manchester City’s Rico Lewis Additional Two-Match Ban

Manchester City defender Rico Lewis has received a further two-match ban from FIFA following his red card against Wydad AC in the Club World Cup.

Lewis, 20, was sent off late in City’s opening group match after a challenge on Samuel Obeng was adjudged as dangerous by referee Ramon Abatti. Despite Manchester City’s protests and a VAR check, the red card stood.

Following a review by FIFA’s disciplinary committee, Lewis has now been found guilty of ‘serious foul play’ and will miss City’s next two games. He was already suspended for Sunday’s 6-0 victory over Al Ain and will now also sit out Thursday’s game against Juventus, as well as City’s subsequent last-16 fixture.

Manchester City’s appeal against the extended ban was unsuccessful.

With Lewis unavailable, manager Pep Guardiola is expected to continue using Matheus Nunes at right-back or switch to a three-man central defense featuring Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Rayan Ait-Nouri in wide support.

City need a victory over Juventus in Orlando to secure top spot in Group G, which would give them a potentially easier draw in the knockout stages.