Dismissed coaches attempting to remain part of the match has been a niche fascination for football fans over the years, but the rules around their continued engagement are fuzzy to say the least.
Can managers sit in stands when sent off? Explaining head coach rules as Mascherano uses phone after red card originally appeared on The Sporting News
While yellow and red cards given to coaches and technical staff are a relatively new feature in modern football, a coach being "sent to the stands" is nothing new.
Referees have long been able to dismiss a coach from the touchline for their behavior. Usually, a coach is sent away from the field of play for dissent, but punishment can be issued for anything, from touching a ball in play to other breaches of their station.
Dismissed coaches attempting to remain part of the match has been a niche fascination for football fans over the years, from Arsene Wenger taking a seat at Old Trafford after being sent off in 2009 to Jose Mourinho taking selfies with Chelsea fans in 2013.
In recent years, leagues around the world have attempted to crack down on this behavior, crafting stricter regulations around coaches who have been dismissed from play. That, however, didn't stop Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano from making headlines during the 2025 Leagues Cup for his antics in the stands, prompting a new discussion over what is and isn't allowed.
The Sporting News explains what is regulated for coaches and managers who have been shown a red card and thusly dismissed from the field of play.
MORE:A full breakdown of the handball rule in football
Can a manager sit in the stands after being sent off?
The simple answer is that the rules differ for each competition, as there is nothing stipulated in the universal Laws of the Game developed by IFAB. Many of the written rules around this particular situation are vague, and thus, the handling of coaches who have been red-carded is often down to the refereeing crew's discretion.
However, across the majority of leagues and tournaments, a manager is generally not allowed to sit in the stands after being sent off.
That is largely the case in the Premier League, where the FA has stipulated that "a player who has been sent off may not take any further part in the game nor may he sit on the substitutes’ bench, where provided."
However, other competitions have different rules. For example, the Leagues Cup involving MLS and Liga MX clubs does allow coaches who have been dismissed from the field of play to sit in the stands.
The variance in rules can sometimes cause confusion during games about what is and isn't allowed. In the summer of 2025, Canada head coach Jesse Marsch was dismissed during a Gold Cup game against Honduras, and he was subsequently investigated by CONCACAF for allegedly disregarding the rules about where he could watch the match. However, he was eventually cleared of wrongdoing, with The Athletic reporting that match officials gave confusing instructions over where he was allowed to sit.
Can a manager communicate with the bench after being sent off?
While the rules around a coach's positioning after being sent off vary, those around their communication with the team do not.
Largely across the board, coaches who have been red-carded are not allowed to communicate with the team or otherwise influence the match.
Just like when a player is dismissed, the intent of the punishment is that the individual must not take any further part in the game.
Javier Mascherano seen using phone in stands after red card
After receiving a red card during halftime of Inter Miami's 2025 Leagues Cup quarterfinal win over Tigres, head coach Javier Mascherano was spotted sitting in the stands directly above his team's bench.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano — who is sitting in the stands after a red card — talking on the phone to his assistant coach Lucas Rodriguez Pagano. pic.twitter.com/uCrgXOSgOn
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) August 21, 2025
On multiple occasions during the second half, the broadcast spotted Mascherano speaking over the phone with his assistant coaches. He was often noticeably agitated, especially after Inter Miami conceded the equalizing goal, with Mascherano seen screaming angrily into his phone.
According to both USA Today and ESPN, a Leagues Cup spokesperson indicated over the press box loudspeaker at Chase Stadium that tournament regulations allow a coach to sit in the stands after being sent off, but they do not allow them to communicate with the bench or influence the match in any way.
Category: General Sports
