Sevilla FC Manager Almeyda Receives Harsh Seven-Game Ban

omidbasir- Matías Almeyda, the head coach of Sevilla FC, received a red card during a recent match against Real Sociedad after passionately protesting the referee’s decisions. The situation escalated when Almeyda entered the pitch and continued his protests for nearly a full minute. Following his dismissal, the 52-year-old Argentine manager confronted the match official at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium for an extended period, resulting in increased scrutiny of his behavior from officials and observers alike.

The ban imposed on Almeyda has been categorized into several specific infractions identified by the officials. The details include a three-match suspension for “contempt,” which constitutes the most severe aspect of the ruling and is based on his conduct captured on camera following the issuance of the red card. Additionally, he received a two-match penalty for his initial protests that led to his expulsion, and one match for “conduct contrary to good sporting order” due to kicking a water bottle and confronting assistant officials. Lastly, he was handed an additional match for “failure to go to the dressing room,” as he lingered in the tunnel area and delayed his exit from the technical zone.

Sevilla FC has taken steps to defend their manager by submitting video evidence that they believe contradicts the referee’s official report. The club has confirmed its intention to appeal the decision to the Appeals Committee and is prepared to escalate the matter to the highest legal sporting authorities if necessary, aiming to reduce the length of Almeyda’s suspension, which currently affects half of the remaining 14 matchdays.

A statement from Sevilla read: “The club, upon learning of the seven-game ban for our head coach from the Disciplinary Committee after his red card last weekend against Alavés, wishes to express the following: We offer our total support to our head coach against a punishment we consider excessive. We share the regret and apologies expressed by the coach himself after the match regarding his reaction. Our legal department will exhaust all available avenues to appeal what we deem an excessive sanction, both in terms of the number of matches imposed and the description of the events. We respect the decisions of the sporting legal authorities but will utilize all available tools to defend our legitimate rights and those of our coach.”

This seven-match ban represents one of the most stringent punishments meted out to a coach in Spanish professional football in recent years. A comparable case dates back to the 2014-15 season, when Almeyda’s compatriot and friend, Diego Simeone, faced an eight-match suspension. During a Spanish Super Cup match between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid, Simeone was expelled for protesting aggressively, ignoring multiple warnings from the fourth official to cease his behavior. The situation escalated when he physically addressed the fourth official, resulting in significant disciplinary action that set a precedent until Almeyda’s recent incident.

With 14 matchdays left in the La Liga season, losing Almeyda for seven games poses a logistical challenge for Sevilla. The manager will need to observe from the stands as his team navigates a crucial stretch of the season. Sevilla’s legal team is diligently working to ensure that the appeal is processed before their next fixture, arguing that the referee’s report misrepresents the events captured on camera during the Alavés match.

Almeyda is not the only key figure absent for the upcoming game against Getafe, as players Joan Jordan and Juanlu have also received one and two-match bans, respectively, following expulsions in the Alavés clash.