Touchline ban issued ahead of Manchester City’s crunch Premier League title clash with Wolves | OneFootball

Manchester City’s upcoming Premier League title clash against Wolves has been issued with a touchline ban in the build-up to the contest on Saturday evening.

That suspension concerns the manager of Saturday’s visiting team Wolves, with Gary O’Neil not permitted in the Etihad Stadium’s dugout alongside his managerial opponent Pep Guardiola for a significant contest at the weekend.

Manchester City know that they must keep up their sensational run of form in the division by claiming all three points this weekend, should they wish to keep the destiny of the Premier League title in their own hands.

Now, as per confirmation from the Football Association this week, Wolves manager Gary O’Neil will not be present on the Etihad Stadium touchline this weekend having been issued with a ban and a fine following events against West Ham in early April.

A statement from the FA read, “Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O’Neil has been suspended from the touchline for one match and fine £8,000 following the Premier League fixture against West Ham United on Saturday 6 April 2024.

“It was alleged that following the completion of the fixture, his language and/or behaviour in or around the match officials’ changing room was improper and/or threatening.

“Mr O’Neil admitted the charge and the sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission.”

O’Neil was left furious after Max Kilman’s 99th-minute equalising goal was ruled out after Tawanda Chirewa was adjudged to have been offside and blocking West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, and therefore interfering with play.

The video assistant referee on the day Tim Robinson recommended a review of the incident, after which the on-field referee Tony Harrington disallowed the goal and Wolves manager Gary O’Neil labelled it “one of the worst decisions I’ve ever witnessed”.

Speaking at length after the game, Gary O’Neil said, “I wasn’t able to control my emotion well enough to get an explanation. The referee said he would rather not discuss it given how I was acting.

“If you are a Premier League official working at the highest level, I would be really disappointed if you thought that was offside. The only way that can be offside is if he stops Fabianski’s ability to move or impedes his vision.

“Only the referee and VAR think that could possibly be offside.”