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Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino claims he is “shocked” by the two-game ban he has been issued with by the FA, per Football.London.
The Spurs manager has been punished for his part in an altercation with referee Mike Dean after the club lost 2-1 to Burnley at Turf Moor earlier this month.
What’s the word?
Pochettino confronted Dean after a game that saw Spurs’ title bid completely derailed.
It is unclear what was said between the two to provoke such a reaction from the Argentine, but the FA have confirmed that he has been sanctioned, and will subsequently be forced to sit in the stands for the upcoming Premier League games against Southampton and Liverpool.
Thr 47-year-old has expressed his disbelief at the severity of his punishment, insisting that it is “unfair”.
According to Football.London, he said: “I am a little bit in shock because I think it is completely unfair, but what can I do now? Nothing.”
He added, when pressed on the possibility of an appeal against the ban: “We are waiting since Wednesday for a letter from the FA but it’s still not arrived. I am so curious to see why they decided to do what they do.
“Two game ban for me is completely unfair and I want to see why and then talk a little bit more. You know, it’s my seventh season in England and you can see my behaviour from day one, talking in public and in private of course I was a coach, a manager, a person, who wanted to help, the Premier League, the FA, someone who tried to emphasise, understand and behave in my best to try to help the referees and football and always to try to improve our game.
“It is my first time here that I’m maybe not completely right in my behaviour but I feel this is too much. I feel a little bit sad and disappointed with the punishment.
“I need to wait and see what they put in the letter and the reasons to ban me for two games. It’s unbelievable no?”
Appeal likely and justified
Pochettino has been a model of consistency since his arrival in England.
This is the first time that he has ever reacted in such a manner against an official and it will surely be the last after such a hefty suspension.
The FA, as he has said, are yet to reveal their reasons for the ban but it is clear that Pochettino believes he has been made an example of.
An appeal could be seen as frivolous by the powers-that-be but the Spurs boss clearly feels strongly enough that it may well be successful.
That could see him in the dugout against Liverpool in a game that could have a major impact on the Premier League title race.
Pochettino did deserve to be punished and behaved in a manner that was unbecoming, but the level of the punishment is over-the-top. Justice would see him take his place on the bench at Anfield.
