Luis Enrique severely suspended by FIFA: a costly blow!

It’s an earthquake in the world of football. Luis Enrique, the Paris Saint-Germain coach, has just received the heaviest sanction imposed by FIFA on a coach in the last five years . The reason? A completely unacceptable gesture: a punch to the face of Chelsea striker Joao Pedro during the tense final of the Club World Cup.

A shocking scene in front of the cameras

The incident occurred at the very end of the match, when tensions were running high. Joao Pedro, a key player in the London attack, approached the PSG bench after a heated verbal exchange with Luis Enrique. The footage, broadcast live, clearly shows the Spanish coach losing his cool and violently hitting the player .

Social media immediately exploded, with the footage going viral within minutes. Many former players, consultants, and journalists expressed their shock at this rare scene in top-level football.

FIFA hits hard

Given the seriousness of the incident, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee met urgently to examine the incident. The response was swift:
Luis Enrique was suspended from all football-related activities for 18 months , effective immediately. He will not be able to coach, attend official matches, or participate in football-related events or conferences during this period.

A historic decision, announced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino himself, during a press conference:

“We have a duty to protect the integrity of the game. Such behavior, especially from a coach of this stature, is completely unacceptable. The sanction is exemplary.”

Chain reactions

PSG is in immense shock. According to several internal sources, the club’s management was unaware of Luis Enrique’s decision to act in this manner and made no attempt to publicly defend him.
An official club statement stated:

“Paris Saint-Germain acknowledges FIFA’s decision and will comply with the disciplinary measures. The club strongly condemns any act of violence.”

Joao Pedro, for his part, reacted with restraint:

“I don’t want to make the situation worse. What happened is regrettable, but I’m focused on football.”

What future for Luis Enrique?

This sanction is likely to weigh heavily on the career of the former Spain coach. Valued for his tactical skills and charisma, Luis Enrique now finds himself at the center of an international scandal. His future at PSG seems more than uncertain, and several media outlets are already reporting a search for an interim coach.

Conclusion

World football is still reeling from this unexpected event. The image of a coach losing control to the point of physically assaulting a player seriously tarnishes the values of the sport. FIFA has sent a strong message: no matter the prestige, violence has no place on the pitch .