Matías Almeyda Faces Suspension Following Controversial Expulsion

omidbasir- On Wednesday, the Competition Committee imposed a seven-match suspension on Matías Almeyda following his expulsion during the match against Alavés, based on the referee Iosu Galech Apezteguía’s report. Sevilla, which has filed an appeal, anticipated a stringent penalty due to the referee’s account and the apparent anger within the officiating community regarding the incident at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. The club aims to explore all available avenues to minimize the suspension of their head coach.

Almeyda’s sanction includes two matches for protesting against the referee, one for failing to proceed to the locker room after being sent off, three for repeated disrespectful behavior towards officials, and one for conduct contrary to proper order.

This suspension means Almeyda will be absent from the sidelines during a critical stretch of LaLiga, beginning with the upcoming match against Getafe as the team battles for survival in the top division. Notably, this marks the second time this season that the Argentine manager has been sent off, the first occurring during a match against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The circumstances surrounding Almeyda’s expulsion—along with the double yellow card issued to Juanlu that left Sevilla with ten players from the 16th minute and a potential penalty not awarded to Agoumé—have tested the patience of the club. Sevilla’s president, José María del Nido Carrasco, has reached out to the officials of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) to formally express his complaints regarding officiating standards and to advocate for a more consistent application of rules.

In a post-match statement, Almeyda expressed regret for his reaction, apologizing to fans, his family, and supporters who closely follow his performance. “It is easy to expel me when I remain silent. I watch every game and see countless disputes where others are allowed to speak. In my case, I did not insult or provoke. I became frustrated asking the referee why I was expelled, and he never provided an explanation. It is easy to write about Almeyda’s expulsion, but the reasons remain unclear,” the Sevilla coach remarked after the match.