Ahead of Bayern Munich's Champions League semi-final first-leg meeting with PSG on Tuesday, there has been considerable concern among fans, who are aware of the gravity of Vincent Kompany's suspension and its likely impact on the outcome.

The Belgian is set to serve a match ban for his sending off in the dramatic win over Real Madrid in Munich during the quarter-final second leg, and without his services, his team may struggle to cope in what is already expected to be a demanding task.

Kompany's absence for Bayern is much more than him missing the dugout. In fact, right upon arrival in Parc des Princes, he will live like a man imprisoned, and in this article, we explore the ordeal of coaches serving suspension in the Champions League.

What happens when a coach is suspended in the UCL?

When a coach is suspended in a major tournament like the UEFA Champions League, the touchline ban is far more than just staying away from the dugout. It is a total isolation from the team during the entire 90 minutes of the match, and extra time if required.

Under Article 69 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, a suspended coach faces three primary restrictions, all of which will hand a significant advantage to the opposition, especially if tactical surprises are prepared and in-game tweaks are required.

The primary restrictions of a suspended UCL coach 

No Access to Dressing Room

Suspended coaches are strictly barred from the team’s vicinity, including the dressing room and tunnel. This means that Vincent Kompany will not be in charge of pre-match talks or tactical discussions at halftime.

Unlike players who are usually allowed to be with the team in the locker room long before the match starts for pre-match meals or meetings, provided they exit before the officials and active players begin their formal match protocol, coaches can not be seen around.

The moment the team touches down at the stadium, the coach is separated from the entire team, and will no longer be able to see them until the final whistle is blown.

Communication Blackout

UEFA strictly prohibits direct or indirect communication of the suspended coach with the bench or players, and this includes the prohibition of walkie-talkies, mobile phones, or even passing notes via a middleman.

Whatever instructions that need to be passed have to be concluded before the team arrives at the stadium, and after that, all is left in charge of the assistant coach, who will then assume full operational control for any important calls.

In an era where technology is advanced, UEFA is aware that messages can still be passed along, which is why the third and final restriction is the most damning of all for suspended coaches.

Supervised

In high-stakes matches, UEFA often assigns a specific official to sit near the suspended coach where they are watching the game, with the sole aim of ensuring that the coach doesn't use a phone or whisper instructions to a staff member who then relays them to the touchline.

So when the camera points to the former Manchester City captain at the Parc des Princes, know he isn't flanked by personal associates, but by UEFA integrity officers ensuring compliance.

Are the rules applicable to other competitions?

Generally, yes. However, some Federations may handle these restrictions with leniency, especially when involving players, but UEFA is more strict with the restrictions on suspensions — it is the same in FIFA competitions.

In the league, the coaches may be allowed in the dressing rooms 15 to 30 minutes before kickoff, and while the usage of communication gadgets is also prohibited, it is not enforced under supervision so coaches may still find ways to get to their team.

Some leagues also allow coaches to speak to their team via phone at half-time and it is generally allowed that they conduct post-match interviews after the cool-down period.

Can suspended coaches choose to stay back?

Yes. A suspended coach may choose not to attend the game, but it could be more complicated than it looks, because he risks a sanction if UEFA observers notice any discrepancy in communication during the course of the game.

To ensure that the coach can not communicate with the team, UEFA assigns a match delegate and Integrity Officers to the technical area, not just to watch the game but to always watch the behavior of the bench.

They look out for suspicious patterns. Let's say if the first assistant coach or another assistant is constantly on their phone, checking a smartwatch, looking at a specific staff member in the stands, or receiving random notes from anyone, the Delegate will flag it immediately.

UEFA also has access to feeds that the public doesn't always see, especially benchcams. If an assistant is seen whispering into a sleeve or using a hidden earpiece, the high-definition footage will catch it.

In some elite stadiums, UEFA officials have the right to monitor the radio frequencies being used by the coaching staff to ensure they are only using approved internal communication and not reaching out to the suspended coach.

What is the punishment for being caught?

If Vincent Kompany was to stay back and then communicate from his hotel room, the consequences would be much worse than a one-match ban. He would be fined and suspended for more games.

UEFA’s disciplinary unit relies heavily on reports from fourth officials and even tip-offs. If a staff member is caught with an open phone line to the coach, the club faces massive bringing the game into disrepute charges.

In extreme cases, UEFA can ban the entire coaching staff from using any electronic communication whatsoever in the next round.

Has anyone been caught before?

It has not been officially reported that any manager has been caught in communication with his team while serving a suspension. However, in 2005, it was famously rumored that a suspended Josê Mourinho sneaked into the Chelsea dressing room inside a laundry basket to give a team talk.

This happened during a Champions League quarter-final match against Bayern Munich, during which he was serving a UEFA ban.

Since then, UEFA has tightened the lockdown. They now perform dressing room sweeps and ensure the suspended coach is physically accounted for in a VIP box where a supervisor can see their hands at all times.  

Who steps in for suspended coaches?

The first assistant coaches are always in line to fill in for the suspended coaches, which is why some teams appoint very experienced coaches as assistants to their main coach.

Aaron Danks takes the reins for Bayern

In the case of Bayern Munich, Vincent Kompany's first assistant is Aaron Danks, whom he brought to the club after both had worked together at Anderlecht, before the Englishman served with Steven Gerrard and Dean Smith at Aston Villa, then Michael Carrick at Middlesbrough.

Even though he has been an assistant coach, he is not a novice when it comes to the technical area, having served in an interim capacity at Villa following the sacking of Gerrard, beating Brentford 4-0.

While Kompany is the face of Bayern’s project and carries the head coach tag, Danks is widely regarded as the architect of their day-to-day training and tactical execution, so Bayern Munich can rest assured they won't miss their coach that much.

Tactical trap: Why is this an advantage to PSG?

Knowing Luis Enrique, PSG could have the tie won if things go well on Tuesday night, because he has the opportunity to catch Bayern Munich unawares, while Vincent Kompany won't be able to respond until the return leg.

Every manager loves in-game tweaks but without their head coach, Bayern Munich are most likely to stick with a game plan, and that could play into the hands of their host.

Conclusion 

It is expected to be an eventful match, one that would have made a great UEFA Champions League final, but only one of these teams will have the opportunity to face the winner of Atlético Madrid vs Arsenal in Budapest.

Bayern Munich have already beaten PSG earlier in the league phase, but it is a familiar scenario for the French champions, who also defeated Arsenal in last season's semi-finals, despite having lost to them in the league phase.

As PSG boss Luis Enrique remarked in his pre-match address, this is a meeting of the two best teams in the world, a clash where the slightest details, and the absence of a leader, could prove the difference.