Kyle Walker is BANNED from the ENTIRE next round of the Champions League and the first leg of a possible quarter-final for what UEFA call an ‘assault’ against RB Leipzig… but Man City WON’T appeal, despite Pep Guardiola’s fury
- Kyle Walker has been slapped with a three-match Champions League ban
- He’s been banned for ‘assault’ in a blow to Man City ahead of the knockout stages
- Walker kicked out at RB Leipzig striker Andre Silva late on in their dead-rubber
- He will miss the last-16 tie with Sporting Lisbon and a possible last eight first leg
Kyle Walker has been slapped with a three-match Champions League ban for ‘assault’ in a blow to Manchester City ahead of the knockout stages.
The right back saw red for petulantly kicking out at RB Leipzig striker Andre Silva late on during City’s 2-1 dead-rubber defeat in Germany at the start of December.
UEFA’s disciplinary board met on Tuesday and handed Walker a suspension that takes in both of the last-16 legs against Sporting Lisbon.
Man City’s Kyle Walker has been hit with a three-match Champions League ban for ‘assault’
The right back saw red for petulantly kicking out at RB Leipzig striker Andre Silva in December
The 31-year-old also misses the first leg of a potential quarter-final should they overcome the Portuguese champions.
Walker was handed an automatic one-game ban but each disciplinary case is assessed by UEFA, with his punishment increased for what regulations state as ‘assault’.
City head to Lisbon on February 15 as they restart their attempt to go one better than last season, when a first Champions League final ended in defeat by Chelsea.
Pep Guardiola branded the Walker’s sending off as ‘unnecessary’ and added that he hoped the defender ‘learns’ from the indiscretion.
‘My red card against Leipzig was very bad judgement and a stupid error that a 31-year-old shouldn’t be making with the amount of games that I’ve played,’ Walker said last week.
Walker will miss the last-16 tie against Sporting Lisbon and a possible quarter-final first leg
Manager Pep Guardiola branded Walker’s sending off as ‘unnecessary’ when it happened
‘I’m human, I make mistakes and I’m learning from that and will bounce back. Hopefully my performances between now and the end of the season can justify that and I’m picking up some silverware.’
The England international’s absence leaves Joao Cancelo and Oleksandr Zinchenko as City’s likely full backs for the European ties.
Cancelo has spent much of the campaign on the left but should revert to his natural side in Walker’s absence.
Nathan Ake is also in contention having played at left back in the Premier League, while Aymeric Laporte has occasionally been called upon in that position in the past.
