Mauricio Pochettino says he has been left “in shock” by the FA’s two-match touchline ban and hinted he will consider an appeal once he has seen the governing body’s written reasons.
The Tottenham manager, who has also been fined £10,000, described the sanction as “completely unfair” and said he was “sad and disappointed” with the decision, particularly given his conduct since moving to the Premier League in 2013 and his support of the English national team.
On Wednesday, Pochettino was banned from the touchline for the Saturday’s game at his former club Southampton and the trip to Liverpool for an angry altercation with referee Mike Dean after the defeat at Burnley last month.
Pochettino, for whom this is a first sanction in English football, decided against appealing the initial charge but the club could challenge the severity of the ban once they have received the written reasons from the FA, which are not expected until Friday at the earliest.
“I’m a little bit in shock because I think it is completely unfair,” Pochettino said. “But what can I do now? Nothing. Only I can accept it. I need to see the reasons because they announced I am banned for two games but we don’t know the reasons because the letter has still not arrived.