Sevilla's fury boils over as refereeing controversy mars Alavés draw
Sevilla players and staff left fuming after controversial decisions in their draw with Alavés, with manager Almeyda sent off in dramatic scenes at the Sánchez-Pizjuán.
Sevilla’s frustrations with Spanish officials reached boiling point as controversial decisions overshadowed their draw with Deportivo Alavés.
Almeyda’s explosive dismissal
The Sánchez-Pizjuán witnessed one of the season’s most dramatic scenes when Sevilla manager Matías Almeyda confronted referee Iosu Gelach Apezteguía after being sent off. The Argentine coach later claimed: “There will be a lie in the match report. I didn’t speak.”
This explosive confrontation could land Almeyda in serious hot water with disciplinary authorities, with a hefty suspension potentially looming.
”The coin never falls our way”
Sevilla’s frustrations didn’t start yesterday. Captain Nemanja Gudelj had already voiced concerns about officiating earlier in the week, suggesting the club receives less respect than others from referees.
After the match, Gudelj doubled down: “We deserve more respect, there are many dubious decisions but the coin never falls our way. The penalty today was crystal clear, it’s too many now…”
The incident in question involved Lucien Agoumé, who appeared to be shoved from behind by Alavés defender Youssef in what Sevilla players and fans believed was a clear penalty. Had it been awarded, Sevilla could have gone 2-0 up before half-time. Neither the referee nor VAR intervened.
Players speak out
Agoumé himself was adamant: “It’s a clear penalty. Everyone saw it except the referee. At least go and check it, but he didn’t. This always happens with us.”
The midfielder highlighted what he perceives as double standards: “When someone fouls us, they don’t look, but when we commit a foul, they check everything quickly and make decisions that change matches.”
Other Sevilla players joined the chorus of discontent:
- Nianzou demanded consistency: “You have to referee both sides equally”
- Goalscorer Djibril Sow noted: “We’ve all seen the match and for me the decisions are a bit unfair”
- Sow also questioned Almeyda’s dismissal: “Normally he’s a very calm man, to send him off like that, I don’t know what happened”
Growing pattern
The frustration at Sevilla stems from what they see as a pattern of unfavourable decisions throughout the season. With 15 matches remaining, they’re hoping for a change in fortune from officials as they battle to improve their position in La Liga.
The dropped points against Alavés certainly didn’t help their cause, and the referee’s notebook will be getting a proper earful from the Sevilla faithful for a while yet.