In Monday’s match between Liverpool and Aston Villa, manager Jurgen Klopp says he will “do absolutely everything” to stay off the yellow card.
Due to his two yellow cards this season, Klopp may miss his last game as Liverpool’s manager at Anfield if he receives his third.
He said: “I’ve known that for a long time. We could turn it around and say I’ve only had two yellow cards all season. A few of my colleagues got suspended right?
“I got calmer over the years obviously. I don’t need to be (on the touchline for the final day) but it would be cool. I will try absolutely everything to not get involved in any kind of ‘discussions’.”
In addition to Klopp, several other managers might be unable to attend their last Premier League game of the year.
Before the final games, The Athletic has assessed who is vulnerable.
What are the rules?
Managers and coaching personnel comprise the occupants of the technical area. Three yellow cards results in a one-game suspension for the offending player. Six players receive a two-match penalty, nine players receive a three-game punishment, and twelve players receive a misconduct charge.
According to the rules of the game, match officials have the authority to give yellow or red cards to people who are inside the technical area.
In the following competitions, the Football Association (FA) permits match referees to give certain bookings:
- Premier League
- Women’s Super League (WSL)
- English Football League (EFL)
- FA Cup
- National League
- National League System (NLS)
- EFL Cup
- Women’s FA Cup
- EFL Trophy
- Women’s Championship
- Women’s Continental League Cup
- The FA Trophy
In contrast to players, though, technical area occupants in the Premier League are not subject to a deadline for bookings. According to the FA, “play-off matches (semi-finals and finals) in the EFL and NLS Steps 1-4, as well as the FA Women’s Continental League Cup, FA Cup, EFL Trophy, and FA Trophy, Women’s FA Cup, are exempt from any automatic touchline ban for the accumulation of cautions by technical area occupants.”
For the sake of fairness, the Premier League is not included in this. Because of this, there is no amnesty for technical area bookings, putting certain managers in jeopardy as the 2023–24 season draws to a close.
What happens if you have a touchline ban?
The following guidelines, according to the FA, are applicable to anyone with a touchline ban:
- The only ways the person can get in touch with others in the dugout are through a phone or a “runner.”
- The person is not permitted to be on the touchline prior to, during, or following the game. This includes taking part in the team’s warm-up.
- Before the game and after halftime, the person can speak with the team in the locker room unless a “extended” touchline ban has been put in place.
- A Regulatory Commission may impose a “extended” touchline ban if the wrongdoing is judged severe enough to require additional action.
- If a “extended” touchline ban is applied, the person is prohibited from speaking with the team for 30 minutes leading up to the game and for 30 minutes following it.
Who is at risk?
In the event that Klopp gets shown a yellow card during Liverpool’s Monday night trip to Villa, he will be prohibited from the touchline for his last Anfield game against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The 56-year-old made his departure from the team known in January, with Arne Slot, the head coach of Feyenoord, taking over.
On the other hand, Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, faces the possibility of missing his team’s season-ending match against Everton. The Spaniard has five bookings, so if he receives a yellow card in this weekend’s match against Manchester United, he could be suspended for two matches. This could be a setback, considering his team is competing for the title.
If David Moyes is booked in Saturday’s match against Luton Town, he may have to miss his last game as West Ham United’s manager. It was stated that, due to contract expiration, he would be leaving the east London club at the end of the campaign. According to The Athletic, they have reached an agreement with former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui over the Scot’s successor.
The following managers could miss their Premier League season’s last few games:
(Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
