Rico Lewis, the 20-year-old Manchester City sensation, is facing the Club World Cup equivalent of being grounded with no TV privileges. After his boot unintentionally connected with Wydad AC’s Samuel Obeng’s face—a move even Bruce Lee might’ve winced at—Lewis found himself on the wrong side of FIFA’s disciplinary committee. And now, he’s out for not one, not two, but three matches.
Lewis Gets the Red, FIFA Sees Redder
Initially hit with a one-match suspension (standard procedure, like tea after a British rainstorm), Lewis probably hoped to return quickly. But FIFA took a long, hard look and decided his challenge amounted to serious foul play under Article 14 (paragraph 1 e) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. Translation? No more Club World Cup action for the lad.
Guardiola Appeals. FIFA shrugs. Lewis sits.
City appealed, of course. Perhaps Pep Guardiola brought charts, diagrams, and even a PowerPoint animation. But FIFA was unmoved, like a cat ignoring its owner. So now, Lewis misses the showdown with Juventus and the crucial last-16 clash. Guardiola will have to reshuffle his deck—without his young ace.
Lewis Ban Overshadows City’s Impressive Run
It’s a pity, really. Manchester City is cruising—crushing Al Ain 6-0 and eyeing the top spot in Group G. But the Lewis suspension drama looms large, overshadowing what should be a triumphant tournament. History’s not exactly on City’s side against Juventus either, with just one win in seven competitive meetings. At least they’ve joined Bayern Munich as the only teams to win their first four Club World Cup fixtures.
Final Whistle: He Gets Time Off, But Not in a Fun Way
Let’s face it—this wasn’t the holiday break Lewis imagined. No training, no matches, just the haunting replay of a boot-meets-face incident. Hopefully, by the time he’s back, City is still in it. Otherwise, he’ll have to watch the final from the stands… or worse, next to the club mascot.
As featured on ManCityNews.com
