Pep Guardiola Charged with Improper Conduct After Being Sent off vs. Liverpool

UEFA has handed Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola a charge of improper conduct after his confrontation with the officials on Tuesday, while Liverpool received another charge for fans' use of fireworks and missiles. 

Per Oliver Kay of The Times, European football's governing body announced the charges on Wednesday, one day after the two clubs met in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg:

Guardiola was sent off in the 2-1 loss after he confronted the official. Per the UEFA report, Liverpool were charged for setting off fireworks and throwing objects after the first leg as well. The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will deal with the charges on May 31.

The Reds came into the match with a 3-0 lead from the first leg and won Thursday's contest as well, a 2-1 triumph at the Etihad Stadium. Gabriel Jesus gave the Citizens a glimmer of hope in the first half, but Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino restored order after the break.

Guardiola was sent off at half-time after he criticised the decision to rule out a goal from Leroy Sane, and he had some choice words for the official after the match, per ESPN: 

"I said it was a goal. I didn't insult him. I was polite, I was correct. But [Antonio] Mateu Lahoz is a special guy. He likes to be different, he likes to be special ... when everybody sees the things, he's going to decide the opposite. It's too much to send [me] off because I didn't say any wrong word."

As noted by ESPN, Lahoz and Guardiola have a history, and the City manager expressed his concerns after his compatriot was put in charge of the match. Lahoz officiated City's contest against AS Monaco in the last 16 in 2017.

La Liga fans and reporters weren't surprised he made headlines Tuesday, including ESPN UK's David Cartlidge:

The second Liverpool charge could spell trouble for the Reds, who were widely criticised for their reception of the Manchester City bus last week.

Per the Guardian's Andy Hunter, manager Jurgen Klopp lashed out at the "idiots" who did so, but it would seem his words had little effect on some of the fans who went overboard again on Tuesday.