Sevilla FC’s battle for La Liga survival has been dealt a significant blow after head coach Matias Almeyda was handed a seven-match touchline ban. The disciplinary action follows a heated confrontation with officials during last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Alaves at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium.
The Breakdown of the Suspension
The Royal Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) disciplinary committee issued a comprehensive breakdown of the Argentine’s punishment, citing multiple infractions during and after his dismissal:
- Initial Protest: 2 matches for confronting the referee on the pitch.
- Failure to Vacate: 1 match for failing to leave the field promptly after receiving a red card.
- Contempt toward Officials: 3 matches for continued verbal arguments and showing contempt toward the officiating crew.
- Unsporting Conduct: 1 match for general unsporting behavior.
The committee noted that Almeyda, 52, continued to argue on the pitch for over a minute after his sending-off, ignoring repeated instructions to exit the technical area.
Impact on Sevilla’s Relegation Fight
The timing of the ban is critical for the Andalusian club. Sevilla currently occupies 13th place in La Liga, but the table remains incredibly tight; they sit just two points above the relegation zone with only 14 matches remaining in the 2025/26 campaign.
Almeyda is set to miss nearly half of the club’s remaining fixtures, leaving the team without their primary tactical lead on the sidelines during a period that includes several high-stakes “six-pointers” against fellow struggling sides.
Emphasis on Refereeing Authority
League officials and the federation used the ruling to reiterate a “zero-tolerance” policy regarding the harassment of match officials. The statement emphasized that respecting refereeing authority is paramount to the integrity of the game, particularly in high-tension environments like the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.
Sevilla has not yet confirmed whether they intend to appeal the length of the ban. In the interim, the club’s assistant coaching staff is expected to take charge of first-team duties for the upcoming fixtures.
Source: RFEF
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