Championship boss stopped from fan lap after FA ban sparks fury: “This must change”

As Hull City players and staff made their way around the pitch to applaud supporters, one key figure was missing from the celebrations.

Head coach Sergej Jakirovic was forced to watch on from the stands instead of joining the traditional lap of appreciation.

The manager had already been banned from the touchline for the decisive clash with Norwich City after being sent off in a 2-2 draw against Leicester City on April 21.

His dismissal came after referee Thomas Kirk interpreted his applause as sarcastic, though Jakirovic insisted it was meant to encourage his players. After talks with the Football Association, it was agreed he would serve a one-match suspension on the final day of the EFL Championship season.

With Jakirovic unable to take his usual place, assistant coach Dean Holden stepped in to oversee proceedings from the dugout. But the restrictions didn’t end there — the ban also prevented Jakirovic from taking part in post-match activities.

Due to the terms of the suspension, he was not permitted on the pitch until two hours after full-time, meaning he had to observe both the match and the celebrations from the director’s box at the MKM Stadium.

The match itself carried huge importance. Hull needed a victory while also relying on Wrexham slipping up against Middlesbrough to secure a play-off spot.

There were early nerves as Derby County took the lead in their own fixture, briefly pushing Hull out of contention. Matters worsened when Mohamed Toure fired Norwich ahead midway through the first half.

However, Oli McBurnie turned the game around, equalising from the penalty spot before netting again in the second half to seal a crucial win. A 2-2 draw between Middlesbrough and Wrexham ultimately worked in Hull’s favour, lifting them into the top six.

Watching from above, Jakirovic kept track of results elsewhere, making use of the different vantage point.

After the match, he admitted it was difficult being away from the touchline but praised his coaching team for stepping up in his absence. He also voiced frustration at the rule that kept him from joining the post-match celebrations, describing it as something that needs to be reconsidered.

Jakirovic is set to return to the dugout when Hull face Millwall in the first leg of their play-off semi-final, scheduled for May 8 or 9.