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Is Man City boss Pep Guardiola banned for Carabao Cup final?

Pep Guardiola is facing a two-match ban for collecting his sixth yellow card of the season during Manchester City’s 3-1 victory at St. James’ Park against Newcastle .

The Man City boss was booked after a confrontation with fourth official Lewis Smith when disagreeing with an on-field decision after Kieran Trippier fouled Jeremy Doku .

This season has seen new regulations introduced for Premier League managers who receive bookings with three yellow cards meaning a one-game ban and six resulting in a two-game suspension.

European matches are exempt from the ban so Guardiola has no worries about being on the touchline for City’s upcoming last-16 tie against Real Madrid in the Champions League but what about domestic games?

Guardiola will certainly miss City’s next Premier League match against West Ham United on Saturday 14 March but the following game was a scheduled league meeting against Crystal Palace which has now been rearranged. That is because City face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final on March 22 which would be the second domestic game that Guardiola’s side play during the course of his ban.

However, the good news for City is that cup finals - much like European games - are excluded from the suspension regulations meaning the Man City boss will be on the touchline for the Wembley clash with Arsenal.

What that means is that Guardiola’s second match ban will be in the FA Cup quarter-final, to be played on the weekend of 4-5 April, though City’s opponents are as of yet unknown.

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After the win at Newcastle, Guardiola said: "I will tell you something - we have all the records in this country, all of them, despite everything.

"We have the record of the manager with the most yellow cards. I want all records and now I have it, two-game ban now and I will go on holidays the next two games.

"There are things after 10 years I cannot understand. Review the action. Of course I'm going to defend Doku and all my teams."

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