Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will be banned for Saturday’s trip to West Ham and the FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool – but what does that mean for him?
Premier League managers are suspended for one game once they have accumulated three yellow cards. Six cautions will result in a two-match ban, nine in a three-match suspension, and 12 in a misconduct hearing.
Bans apply to league and FA Cup games but not European fixtures or domestic cup finals following new rules brought in for the 2025-26 campaign.
Red cards lead to a one-match touchline ban, which can be further extended by the Football Association, with a stadium ban the most severe form of punishment.
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Where does a suspended manager sit during the game?
A manager serving a touchline ban is allowed into the stadium to watch their side play, but they can only sit in the directors’ box or in the stand opposite to the technical area.
They are prohibited from being on the touchline or entering the field of play before and after the match.
If a manager is sent off during a match, they cannot watch the rest of the game from the stands or conduct media activities.
Suspended managers are still obliged to carry out interviews before and after the game.
Can a banned coach communicate with their staff or players?
Suspended managers are not allowed to shout instructions to their staff in the technical area or directly communicate instructions to the players during a match.
They can, however:
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Give the pre-match team talk
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Talk to staff in the dugout via a phone, ‘runner’ or any other electronic device
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Be in the dressing room at half-time and full-time
If a manager is serving an extended touchline ban (when a manager is sent off and given a longer ban as punishment by the FA), they cannot do any of the above or go into the changing room 30 minutes before or after the game, as well as at half-time.
What happens with a stadium ban?
If a manager has been banned from a stadium, they cannot enter the ground on the day their team is playing there.
The coach is allowed to watch the game on television, but they cannot gain any direct view of the pitch, such as watching the fixture in a tower block overlooking.
They also cannot communicate with any player or member of staff from kick-off until full-time.
Which manager has been booked most this season?
No Premier League manager has received more yellow cards than Guardiola, who has been cautioned six times this season.
Brighton‘s Fabian Hurzeler and Fulham‘s Marco Silva have five cautions each and are on the verge of two-match suspensions.
Michael Carrick, Liam Rosenior, Regis le Bris, Eddie Howe, Oliver Glasner, Igor Tudor and Rob Edwards are the only top-flight managers with a clean record.
This article is the latest from BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team.
