Almeyda breaks silence on seven-game ban: 'I apologise, but I also accept it'
Sevilla boss Matías Almeyda addressed his seven-match touchline ban in a lengthy press conference, calling the punishment unjust but vowing to move on.
Matías Almeyda finally got his say on that seven-game ban — and blimey, he had a lot to get off his chest. The Sevilla head coach faced the media ahead of the trip to Getafe, but it was his suspension, handed down following his red card in the Alavés match, that dominated the room.
A week unlike any other
Almeyda admitted the build-up to this press conference had been anything but normal, with the uncertainty over the length of his ban hanging over everything. Once the dust settled, though, he said the football side of preparations carried on as usual — corrections, analysis, focus on the next opponent. Business as usual, more or less.
His take on the ban itself
This is where it gets interesting. Almeyda was clear he thinks the original red card was unjust — and therefore everything that followed from it is unjust too. His argument, essentially:
- He was asking questions with his hands behind his back — hardly the behaviour of a man looking for aggro
- There were no insults involved, just a protest over a decision
- The punishment (seven matches) he feels is wildly disproportionate
- He drew a distinction between protesting a call and actually abusing a referee — insisting he never crossed that line
He did, however, hold his hands up. “Pido disculpas, pero también las acepto” — he apologised publicly, acknowledged he made a mistake getting sent off in the first place, and said he’s not too proud to own that.
No conspiracy theories, ta very much
To his credit, Almeyda was at pains not to go full tinfoil hat about it all. He said he doesn’t believe the officials are out to get Sevilla specifically — that would be giving himself too much importance, in his words. He wants refs to do their job without feeling like they’re under the microscope from his camp.
He did, however, call for more open dialogue between managers and officials, and suggested that the current rules — as applied — aren’t doing Spanish football any favours.
One thing he’s decided going forward
Perhaps the most striking moment: Almeyda announced he’s done talking to referees altogether. Full stop. He’s going to wear a mask on the touchline (metaphorically, one assumes) and zip it. Whether that lasts the season is another matter entirely, but the sentiment was genuine.
The dressing room and the bigger picture
Away from the ban chat, Almeyda was genuinely warm about his squad. He said the players have sent him messages that have actually moved him emotionally, and that the group deserves to finish the season well — they’re giving everything. He also made a broader point about Sevilla’s global stature, noting the club still turns heads worldwide and that LaLiga is better with a strong Sevilla in it.
It’s a tough moment for the club, no doubt. But if nothing else, Almeyda sounds like a man who’s processed it, accepted it, and is ready to crack on — even if he thinks the whole thing was a right liberty.