Why Pep Guardiola is not on the touchline for Man City vs Exeter City FA Cup tie

Pep Guardiola watched the FA Cup third round tie against Exeter City from the stands

Pep Guardiola watched Manchester City's FA Cup third round tie with Exeter City from the stands as he served a one-match ban for collecting three yellow cards.

Guardiola was cautioned during the midweek draw with Brighton, his third booking of the campaign. He was also shown a yellow card in the win at Nottingham Forest in December and the draw with Arsenal in September.

Managers are suspended once they receive three yellow cards and the ban applies to FA Cup ties. Eight bookings will lead to a two-match ban, while 16 leads to an FA misconduct hearing.

In Guardiola's absence against Exeter, assistant Pep Lijnders was responsible for dishing out the instructions to the City players alongside first team coach Kolo Toure.

Guardiola cut an agitated figure during the game with Brighton due to his interactions with the fourth official and opposite number Fabian Hurzeler. He had a number of spats with both, and was booked by referee Thomas Bramall in the first half after losing his temper when Jeremy Doku was not initially given a penalty before it was overturned using VAR.

"I was complaining why it wasn't a penalty. And after it was - I was right," he said after the game. "It was a penalty. I don't know how the referee didn't whistle and VAR had to do it. It's an easy job for the referees now."