Pep Guardiola's Touchline Ban Explained for Arsenal Cup Final Clash
Pep Guardiola will face his old rival Mikel Arteta in the Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, despite being under a two-match suspension. The reason lies in the specific rules governing managerial bans in domestic cup finals.
Why Was Pep Guardiola Banned?
Guardiola triggered an automatic two-match suspension after receiving his sixth booking of the 2025/26 domestic season. This occurred when he confronted fourth official Lewis Smith over a perceived foul on Jérémy Doku during a recent match.
Reason He Can Be in the Dugout Against Arsenal
Unlike player suspensions, which typically apply across all domestic competitions, managerial touchline bans under current FA regulations are competition-specific for cup finals. The Carabao Cup final is treated as a stand-alone showpiece event regarding disciplinary sanctions for coaching staff. This means Guardiola's ban does not extend to this particular match, allowing him to be present on the touchline.
Where Will the Ban Be Served?
The two-match ban applies specifically to the Premier League and the FA Cup. Guardiola already served the first part of his suspension during Manchester City's 1-1 draw against West Ham on March 14. The second game of the ban will be served during City's upcoming FA Cup quarter-final in April, rather than the Carabao Cup final.
Carabao Cup Final Details
The first cup final of the 2025/26 season will take place at 4.30pm on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Wembley Stadium. Here are the key viewing options:
- UK TV Channel: The match is being broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, and Sky Sports Ultra HDR, with coverage starting at 3.30pm.
- Live Stream: Available on the Sky Go app for Sky Sports subscribers on mobile, tablet, and laptop, or via NOW TV with a Day or Month Membership on the NOW app or website.
- How to Watch in the US: The match will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+, with coverage typically beginning 30 minutes before kick-off.
Team News and Head-to-Head Record
Arsenal are monitoring the fitness of Bukayo Saka, while Manchester City remain without long-term injured Josko Gvardiol but will have Erling Haaland in the starting lineup. This is the 215th meeting between the sides, with Arsenal leading the all-time record with 100 wins compared to Manchester City's 65, and 49 draws. In their most recent encounter in September 2025, the teams played out a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
