Sevilla FC manager Matias Almeyda has been suspended for seven matches following his dismissal during last weekend’s league draw against Deportivo Alavés.
The sanction was confirmed Wednesday after the Argentine coach was sent off for protesting and then stepped onto the pitch at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium to continue arguing with the referee for more than a minute.
In its ruling, the disciplinary committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation detailed multiple infractions. Almeyda received a two-match ban for his protests, one match for refusing to leave immediately after the red card, three matches for what officials described as an attitude of contempt toward referees, and an additional game for unsporting behaviour.
The punishment is a significant blow for Sevilla, who sit 13th in La Liga, just two points above the relegation zone with 14 fixtures left to play. Almeyda will now miss half of those remaining matches as the club battles to secure its top-flight status.
