Manchester City’s young defensive talent, Rico Lewis, will miss two more matches in the Club World Cup after FIFA’s disciplinary committee upheld an extended suspension for a late red card in City’s group-stage clash against Wydad Casablanca.
The 20-year-old full-back, a product of City’s academy, was sent off in the 88th minute of the 2-0 victory over the Moroccan side last Wednesday in Philadelphia. Initially handed a standard one-match suspension, Lewis was forced to sit out Monday’s 6-0 demolition of Al Ain in Atlanta.
However, following a review, FIFA ruled that Lewis’s tackle amounted to “serious foul play,” triggering an additional two-match ban. Manchester City’s appeal against the extended punishment was unsuccessful.
The ruling means Lewis is now set to miss Thursday’s high-profile group match against Juventus as well as the team’s round-of-16 fixture. While Pep Guardiola’s men have already secured qualification to the knockout phase after back-to-back wins, the absence of Lewis adds a fresh defensive concern as the tournament progresses.
The extended ban comes as a setback for the highly-rated England international, who has been steadily growing into a first-team role at City. Despite his absence, Guardiola’s squad depth is expected to help City remain competitive in the upcoming fixtures.
