Slaven Bilic charged by FA following red card but set to escape touchline ban
Slaven Bilic has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association following his red card at Derby County – but will escape a touchline ban.
The Baggies boss was shown two yellow cards at Pride Park last weekend and sent to the stands by referee Gavin Ward.
He has until Friday to respond to the FA, but it's understood Bilic is planning to accept the charge and take a regulation fine, allowing him to return to the dugout against Blackburn Rovers this weekend.
Unlike players, a red card for a manager does not automatically result in a one-game suspension, unless the FA decide to act after reading the referee’s report.
Managers are only given an automatic one-game suspension if they pick up four yellow cards over the course of the season.
The FA have subsequently charged Bilic, but it is being treated as a standard case and a fine has been offered alongside the charge, which Albion's head coach will accept.
Bilic was shown two yellow cards against Derby on Saturday for complaining about refereeing decisions, leaving him just two bookings away from an automatic touchline ban.
But he will not be suspended for this weekend’s home match with Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn Rovers.
After his red card, Bilic admitted he might need to alter his attitude on the touchline.
“I will have to work on it, I will have to control myself,” he said. “But then we’re talking about something that is important for our performance.”
Albion have started the season unbeaten in the league, taking nine points from the first five games.
Bilic, who took training at The Hawthorns yesterday because the official 2019/20 team photo was being shot, has been encouraged by what he’s seen.
But he’s reminded his players not to take their foot off the gas.
“It’s early days,” he said. “I don’t mind our team being confident, that’s a big part of your tactics and style, you need confident guys.
“Under one condition, that we know what we have to do to win the game.
“Work hard for each other, respect the opponent, and be on the front foot. Then there’s no problem.”
Albion have now sold out their allocation for the trip to Craven Cottage on Saturday, September 14.
Just under 2,000 Baggies are making the trip to London for a 12.30pm kick-off moved for television coverage.
Oliver Burke and Kyle Edwards missed yesterday's official team photo through illness.
