Tottenham manager Antonio Conte’s exasperation is only set to grow as the Italian is now likely to miss next week’s crucial UEFA Champions League match against Marseille in France.
Referee Danny Makkelie dismissed the Italian in the dying minutes of Wednesday’s 1-1 home draw with Sporting Lisbon after his protest against Harry Kane’s stoppage-time disallowed strike.
An official who receives a red card during a UEFA competition is automatically suspended for one match. But in Marseille, where Spurs need a draw to advance to the round of 16, Conte won’t simply be absent from the sidelines.
Antonio Conte will not be permitted to interact with his players before or during the game at Stade Velodrome. This disciplinary measure will be in line with Article 69 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulation which states: “A team manager/coach or other team official who is sent off or suspended from carrying out his function may not be in the technical area or communicate directly with the team’s players.”
The article also adds, “In addition, a team manager/coach or any other team official who is suspended from carrying out his function may not enter the dressing room or tunnel before or during the match.”
The Italian, who is witnessing his second year with Spurs, may possibly face additional penalties if referee Makkelie submits his match report for the Group D encounter.
Tottenham finished the game with a draw following Kane’s disallowed goal, a result which throws open qualifications for the Round of 16 in the group.
Conte was still furious when he spoke afterwards, and UEFA may also look at his comments made after the game. The 53-year-old asserted at his brief news conference that VAR was dishonest and causing “big damage.”
He emphasised that if Kane’s goal had been for a “top team, in an important game,” it would not have been overturned.
