Sevilla FC slam 'excessive' seven-match ban for Almeyda as club vows legal fight
Sevilla have come out swinging in defense of manager Matías Almeyda after he received a hefty seven-match touchline ban following his red card against Alavés.
Sevilla FC have thrown their full weight behind manager Matías Almeyda after the Competition Committee dished out a seven-match ban that has left the club absolutely fuming.
The incident
The Argentine gaffer saw red during last weekend’s clash with Alavés, and while the club acknowledges his post-match apology for losing his rag, they’re not having any of this punishment.
In a strongly-worded statement released Wednesday, Sevilla made it crystal clear they consider the ban well over the top and plan to fight it tooth and nail.
Club’s response
The Andalusian outfit didn’t mince words, expressing “total support for our manager against what we consider an excessive punishment.” They’re proper miffed about both the length of the suspension and how the incident has been characterized by Spanish football authorities.
Sevilla confirmed their legal department is already on the blower, preparing to exhaust every available avenue to appeal the decision.
What happens next
While respectfully acknowledging the sporting judicial bodies and their decisions (diplomatic, that), Sevilla have made it abundantly clear they’ll use “all their tools” to defend what they consider their legitimate rights and those of their manager.
If the ban stands, Almeyda would be absent from the touchline for a significant portion of Sevilla’s remaining fixtures this season - a proper nightmare for a club still finding its feet under the Argentine’s guidance.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Los Nervionenses, who are desperate for consistency as they look to climb the table after a disappointing campaign by their standards.