The Club World Cup final in New York, featuring European giants Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, ended in controversy after an altercation involving PSG head coach Luis Enrique. Following the final whistle, the Spanish manager was involved in a heated exchange with Chelsea forward Joao Pedro that escalated into a physical confrontation. The incident has raised questions about potential disciplinary action from FIFA.
According to Article 2 of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code, physical aggression or assault against an opponent or anyone other than a match official can result in a minimum suspension of three matches or a time-based penalty, depending on the severity of the act.
FIFA define aggression as physical actions such as kicking, punching, elbowing, biting, spitting, or hitting another person. However, punishments handed out during the Club World Cup, such as red cards or suspensions, are limited to that specific competition.
Even if Luis Enrique is sanctioned, it would not affect his ability to coach in UEFA tournaments or in French domestic league play. If FIFA’s disciplinary panel decides to act, any suspension would apply only to future editions of the Club World Cup, provided PSG qualify again.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma #1 and Head Coach Luis Enrique of Paris Saint-Germain get into an altercation with Joao Pedro #20 (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
After the match, Luis Enrique said that he was “foolish” during the incident. “I was foolish. He was just standing there, pushed me, I touched him, and he threw himself to the ground,” the coach said after the match.
When will FIFA announce a sanction?
The disciplinary process begins with the official match coordinator’s report, which documents any incidents on or around the field after the match. That report has now been submitted to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, which will review the situation and decide whether to open a formal case.
The Disciplinary Committee, which will review the match report and available video footage to determine whether Luis Enrique’s behavior fits the definition of aggression under the rules. Either way, his sanction would be postponed until the coach returned to the competition.
