Man City learn outcome of Kyle Walker Champions League ban appeal

By Conor Laird

Published: February 18, 2022 4:59 pm

Last Updated: February 18, 2022 5:04 pm

Premier League giants Manchester City have been dealt a blow on Friday, in the form of confirmation that key defender Kyle Walker will be unavailable for the club’s upcoming European fixtures.

The news comes on the back of the straight red card picked up by Walker during City’s 2-1 Champions League group stage defeat to RB Leipzig early in December.

The Englishman was spotted kicking out at Leipzig’s Andre Silva in altogether needless fashion, leaving the team of officials in charge of the fixture with little choice but to send Walker on his way:

Kyle Walker gets a straight red and will miss the first leg of the #UCL round of 16 game in February 🟥 pic.twitter.com/9sYuHbcjoj
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 7, 2021

Walker, in turn, was slapped with a 3-match ban, the first of which was served in City’s Last-16 first-leg annihilation of Portuguese giants Sporting CP on Tuesday.

Those in a position of power at the Etihad, though, remained hopeful of seeing their defensive star’s sanction reduced, launching an appeal with UEFA earlier this month.

But, as confirmed by a number of sources on Friday afternoon, such efforts have proven fruitless, with UEFA adamant that Walker will go on to see out a further two-game suspension over the weeks ahead:

UEFA have dismissed City’s appeal over length of Kyle Walker’s suspension. Misses a further two Champions League games.
— Jack Gaughan (@Jack_Gaughan) February 18, 2022

‘Don’t think he will be ready’

Turning attentions towards matters this weekend, Walker, in turn, will likely be afforded a start in Man City’s upcoming Premier League showdown with Tottenham.

Another member of Pep Guardiola’s ranks set to miss out at the Etihad, however, comes in the form of Jack Grealish.

Speaking to the media on Friday afternoon, the Sky Blues’ boss admitted that is looks altogether unlikely that the club’s big-money summer addition will be fit to feature tomorrow, amid Grealish’s ongoing struggles with a shin problem:

“I didn’t talk with the doctor but we will see. I don’t think he will be ready for tomorrow but hopefully for the next weeks.”

🗣 “I am not a doctor.”
Pep Guardiola when asked if the problem with Jack Grealish is the same he had whilst at Aston Villa pic.twitter.com/r5B24tkn4V
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 18, 2022