Are bench players allowed to smoke while on the sidelines?

And if not, then why not?

It’s not just the players—even the coaches aren't allowed to breathe right.

Of course they can. They’ve even got a minibar

If players on the bench decide to light up, they should probably stick to doing it while they're actually sitting on the bench. I mean, if you aren't on the bench when you're smoking, then technically, you aren't even a player on the bench, right?

They’re actually handing out penalties in the US Open Cup for things like having sandwiches on the bench, let alone for smoking
I could probably suck on a cigarette just like Sarri

Lippi probably would have just lit up a Cuban cigar and choked on it until the final whistle. I actually feel for Sarri—seeing him look that frazzled while he's losing his mind... just let the man breathe, for God's sake.

William Clark86 said:And if not, then why not?

They can't do it because it's just not fair to their non-smoking colleagues. Honestly, it would be fine if they just sat in the back on a stool or an old crate where they aren't bothering anyone. That way, they stay out of the camera shot too. It’s just a matter of hygiene.

Just so they don't end up poisoning everyone around them.

Banning smoking on the sidelines is one of the biggest moves ever made to kill off the spontaneity and mystique that used to surround this game.









It’s one of those sights I miss most about modern soccer. A close-up of a manager looking stone-faced with a cigarette gripped between his fingers. Nothing much is even happening on the pitch, but just that one shot—that single drag of smoke—would crank the tension up an entire octave...

Claiming a coach can't light up is just plain ridiculous... I mean, isn't a high-strung manager with a cigarette in hand one of the most iconic images in all of soccer?

Look, I'm just a cousin here, but what's the point? Halfway through the game, this guy downs two double cognacs, lights up a cigarette, and basically tells the whole locker room to go screw themselves. Honestly, I have no clue how anyone can even call themselves a coach these days.