Manchester City’s Kyle Walker (Twitter)
Manchester City defender Kyle Walker was sent off for an ugly foul in their final Champions League group match.
- AFP
- Last Update:28 Jan 2022, 22:38 IST
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Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has been banned for three European matches after his Champions League red card against RB Leipzig.
England right-back was sent off for an ugly foul on striker Andre Silva in the 82nd minute of City’s final Champions League group match on 7 December.
The suspension, handed down by UEFA’s disciplinary body on Friday, sees Walker ruled out of both stages of City’s Champions League last-16 match against Sporting Lisbon.
UEFA branded the challenge as an “assault” on its disciplinary chargesheet.
Walker will also miss the first leg of the quarter-finals if City beat Sporting or have their first match in European competition next season.
City Leipzig lost the match 2–1, but were assured of the top spot in Group A, making the 31-year-old’s tackle unnecessary.
Walker’s ban means Pep Guardiola is now counting the cost of his decision to field a stronger side for a dead rubber.
“The red card hurts us, especially for the 16th round. Kyle Walker is an important player for us and it’s unnecessary to lose him like this. I hope he learns from it,” Guardiola said shortly after the Leipzig game.
City will face Sporting in the first leg in Lisbon on 15 February, with a return leg at the Etihad Stadium on 9 March.
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