Red-Carded Coach Bento to Miss Korea's Final Group Match Against Portugal

Korea's national team manager Paulo Bento will miss the team's final group-stage match against Portugal on Friday after receiving a red card during the previous game against Ghana on Monday in the World Cup in Qatar.

Korea won a corner kick before the final whistle blew in Monday's game, but referee Anthony Taylor ended the match before it could be taken, prompting Bento to run onto the pitch and protest vociferously to Taylor.

Assistant coach Sergio Costa said Bento did not make any inappropriate comments. "It was a justified protest, but he was sent off," Costa added.

Korea lost to Ghana 3-2, slimming its chances of advancing to the knockout stage as it drew with Uruguay 0-0 in its first group-match game on Nov. 24.

According to FIFA rules, Bento will not be allowed to sit on the bench during the crucial clash with Portugal or speak with his players in the locker room before the game and during half time.

He can only watch the game from the VIP section of the stands.

Korea Football Association vice president Lee Young-pyo said, "All strategies are formed before a match, so there won't be major problems [if Bento is not on the bench]."

Hailing from Lisbon, Portugal, Bento participated in the 2002 World Cup as a member of the Portuguese national team and played against Korea. After retiring from competition in 2004, he coached the Portuguese national team from 2010 to 2016.

His background has created a lot of interest in the upcoming match against Portugal, his native country.