Rico Lewis faces red card controversy during Club World Cup match

In the Club World Cup opener held in humid conditions in Philadelphia, the England international Rico Lewis received a red card in the 88th minute during a match between Manchester City and Wydad AC. Despite Manchester City maintaining complete control of the game, winning 2-0, Lewis's dismissal occurred after a sliding challenge on Wydad forward Samuel Obeng. Lewis managed to win the ball during the challenge, but his follow-through caught Obeng in the face, leading to the controversial decision by the referee, Ramon Abatti, which City manager Pep Guardiola deemed unnecessary. Pep Guardiola was visibly frustrated with the officiating after the match, arguing that Lewis acted naturally and with no intent to harm. Guardiola pointed out that Lewis had touched the ball and insisted that no foul play was intended. Post-game discussions with the match officials confirmed that they had checked VAR, leading to acceptance of the referee's decision despite Guardiola's protests. Guardiola added that Lewis is not the type of player who tries to injure opponents and reiterated that the decision impacted the focus on an otherwise professional performance by the team. Former footballer John Obi Mikel weighed in on the situation, asserting that although Lewis won the ball, the follow-through left his foot high, justifying the red card. Mikel emphasized that even if the intention was not there, the consequences of lifting his leg too high during the tackle warranted the referee's decision. Callum Wilson, also commenting on the incident, noted that although Lewis played the ball, his follow-through ultimately influenced the decision, confirming the nuances surrounding such challenges in professional football. Following the victory, Guardiola reflected positively on his team's performance, particularly highlighting the contributions of his new signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, alongside standout performances from Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku, who provided the goals. The team is now set to continue their campaign, with upcoming matches that will require further improvements from all players as they adapt and settle into the demanding season ahead.