As Hull City’s players and coaches lapped up a lap of applause from their fans, there was one glaring missing.

That would be Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic, who had to remain in the stands as part of the season-ending ritual.

Jakirovic was excluded from the dugout for his team’s must-win match against Norwich City on Saturday after being sent off in the Tigers’ 2-2 draw with Leicester City on April 21.

Why didn’t Jakirovic attend Hull’s lap of appreciation?

Referee Thomas Kirk sent the Tigers manager a red card after he felt Jakirovic had sarcastically celebrated one of his judgments, despite the fact that the latter stated his clapping gesture was intended to inspire his troops.

Following conversations with the FA, all parties agreed that Jakirovic would serve his one-game suspension against the Canaries on the final day of the Championship season.

With Jakirovic in the stands, assistant head coach Dean Holden took over coaching duties.

However, in a cruel twist, the touchline prohibition was extended to the post-game festivities.

The FA and Jakirovic reached an agreement over his ban, which required him to be off the field for two hours following the match.

As a result, Jakirovic had to watch Saturday’s game and the lap of honour from the director’s box at the MKM Stadium.

High stakes in Hull.

It was a nerve-racking situation for Jakirovic because Hull needed to defeat Norwich and hope Wrexham dropped points against Middlesbrough to make the play-offs.

The Tigers entered Saturday’s final Championship game seventh in the rankings with 70 points, but slid to eighth after Derby County, who also had play-off ambitions, scored in the fifth minute against Sheffield United.

Hull’s play-off hopes were dealt another blow in the 26th minute, as Australian striker Mohamed Toure put the Canaries ahead.

However, Tigers star Oli McBurnie leveled the game immediately after with a penalty and added another in the 67th minute, which proved to be the winning goal.

And, with to Middlesbrough’s 2-2 draw with Wrexham, Hull moved ahead of them into sixth place, allowing them to qualify for the playoffs.

Jakirovic maintained track on Hull’s rivals by keeping his phone ready in the director’s box.

Jakirovic reacts to the touchline ban.

Despite missing walking around his technical area at MKM Stadium, Jakirovic praised his team for holding down the fort during a high-stakes moment.”It’s difficult (not being on the touchline) because this is my usual position,” Jakirovic told talkSPORT.But I do believe in Dean. Also, Marko (Salatovic, assistant coach) was not on the bench.

We immediately reorganized there, and Dean, Andelo (Roguljic, coaching analyst), and Erbil (Bozkurt, goalkeeping coach) did an excellent job today.”

Jakirovic was frustrated that he couldn’t join his staff and players during the lap of appreciation.According to the rules, Jakirovic can join the pitch two hours after the game is ended.Which is unbelievable, and we must alter it.

“It’s difficult, but it’s simple in the end since we won the game and advanced to the playoffs. “I felt like the chairman.”

Jakirovic will return to the sidelines for Hull City when they visit Millwall, who finished third, in the opening leg of their Championship play-off semi-final on May 8 or 9.