Sevilla head coach Matías Almeyda has been handed a seven-match suspension following his red card during last weekend’s La Liga draw with Alavés.
The 52-year-old Argentine was sent off after protesting a decision and went on to enter the pitch at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium, where he angrily confronted the referee for more than a minute.
In a statement released on Wednesday,February 18, the Spanish football federation’s disciplinary committee detailed the breakdown of the ban. Almeyda received a two-match suspension for his protests, one match for failing to leave the field after being dismissed, three matches for displaying an “attitude of contempt” toward match officials, and an additional one-match ban for unsporting conduct.
The suspension is a significant blow for Sevilla, who currently sit 13th in La Liga, just two points above the relegation zone with 14 matches remaining. Almeyda is set to miss half of those fixtures as the club battles to secure its top-flight status.
The incident has drawn attention from league authorities, who reiterated the need for respect toward referees and match officials. Sevilla must now navigate a crucial stretch of the season without their head coach on the touchline.
