After an altercation with Chelsea forward João Pedro on the field marred the end of Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup final, Luis Enrique, the manager of Paris Saint-Germain, could be subject to a time-based coaching ban.
The game took place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Chelsea emerged victorious with a resounding 3-0 victory,
becoming the first winners under the new tournament structure.
Late in the game, tensions increased even though Chelsea controlled with two goals from Cole Palmer and another from João Pedro.
After PSG midfielder João Neves was sent off for yanking Marc Cucurella’s hair,
more than 20 players and personnel from both teams got into a furious altercation.
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Luis Enrique seemed to strike Pedro’s face during the confusion that ensued after the final whistle,
Further causing the Chelsea star to tumble.
Furthermore, video footage and eyewitness reports indicated that Enrique slapped Pedro on the side of the head after the two confronted each other.
Luis Enrique Explains What Went Down With Chelsea Player, Pedro
The incident quickly escalated, drawing in players and staff in a mass brawl.
Enrique was later seen telling his staff, “I’m stupid. [Pedro]’s standing there, he pushes me, I touch him and he throws himself,” as quoted by SPORT.
Meanwhile, Speaking at a post-match press conference, Enrique denied any malicious intent and insisted he was trying to defuse the situation.
“What happened at the end of the match was a situation that everyone could have avoided,” he said.
“I tried to separate the players. There was a lot of tension, everyone pushed and shoved. These are situations we should all avoid.”
The PSG manager’s explanation was also echoed by club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who defended Enrique’s character.
“We have the most disciplined and respectful coach in the world. He went to separate the ball and got pushed.
You have to have respect for your coaches, too,” Al-Khelaifi said.
Nevertheless, it looks like disciplinary action is about to happen.
Although PSG won’t be playing under FIFA’s control again until the InterContinental Cup in December,
officials are apparently considering a time-based penalty, so FIFA cannot issue match-specific penalties.
Enrique would be barred from training and matchday responsibilities for a predetermined amount of time as a result.