Rico Lewis Suspended for Two More Matches at FIFA Club World Cup

Manchester City defender Rico Lewis has been handed an additional two-match ban following his red card in the Club World Cup opener against Wydad Casablanca. The 20-year-old England international was sent off in the 88th minute of City's 2-0 victory over the Moroccan side in Philadelphia for a dangerous tackle on Samuel Obeng.

Initially, Lewis faced a one-match suspension, which caused him to miss the 6-0 win against Al Ain in Atlanta. However, FIFA’s disciplinary committee reviewed the incident and extended the ban to three matches, citing "serious foul play" under Article 14 of the FIFA disciplinary code.

Manchester City appealed the decision, but the appeal was unsuccessful, meaning Lewis will also miss the upcoming group game against Juventus and the last-16 fixture if City advance. This suspension poses a significant challenge for manager Pep Guardiola, as Lewis is the squad's only natural right-back.

With Kyle Walker absent from the squad amid transfer speculation, Guardiola may have to rely on midfielder Matheus Nunes or defender Abdukodir Khusanov to fill the right-back position in Lewis’s absence. The club is reportedly considering signing a right-back this summer, with Juventus’s Andrea Cambiaso among the potential targets.

Despite the setback, Manchester City have already secured progression to the knockout phase after winning their first two group matches.

This suspension is a blow to City's defensive options but opens opportunities for other squad members to step up during the Club World Cup campaign.

Sources: BBC News, ESPN