PELEGRINE AFUNGIWA NA UEFA

A further one-game sanction has been
suspended for two years following the Chilean's
furious reaction to his side's 2-0 loss to the
Blaugrana at the Etihad last week
Manuel Pellegrini has been handed a two-game
touchline suspension by Uefa for criticising
referee Jonas Eriksson after Manchester City’s
Champions League defeat to Barcelona .
A further one-game sanction has been
suspended for two years.
Following the 2-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium
on February 18, during which Martin
Demichelis was sent off, the Chilean claimed
the Swedish official “decided the game”.
"Of course I have a complaint, not only for
the penalty and the red card,” Pellegrini said at
the time.
"I think in the whole match we didn't have a
referee with impartiality to both teams.”
Pellegrini has since apologised for his
comments but his sanction from Uefa means
he will not be permitted to sit on the bench
for City’s return leg against the Spanish
champions on 12 March.
"You are frustrated and angry. Maybe I said
something but I don't think that way. I want to
apologise," the former Malaga boss
subsequently stated.
"I didn't say he was a bad referee, that he was
not honest, that he cannot referee in Uefa.
"I felt from the beginning his criteria was not
the same for both teams, I think he had a bad
day - everyone can have a bad day - but I
didn't say that intentionally he didn't give fouls
for us or did give fouls for Barcelona."
The Chilean will not be allowed to
communicate directly or indirectly with his
players or coaching staff during the match at
Camp Nou.