Manuel Pellegrini backs Matías Almeyda after tough suspension | OneFootball

The conflict between Vinicius and Gianluca Prestianni is not the only one in the spotlight of Spanish football. On the last matchday of La Liga, Matías Almeyda was embroiled in a scandal after being sent off in Seville during the 1-1 draw against Chacho Coudet’s Alavés, for which he received a staggering seven-match suspension! This came after the damning report from referee Iosu Galech Apezteguía. This Friday, Manuel Pellegrini came to his defense.

The Engineer, the Chilean manager of Betis, Sevilla’s classic rival, spoke at a press conference ahead of their match against Rayo Vallecano and described the sanction against “El Pelado” as “unfair.” “As a fellow professional, it’s unfortunate that he has received this number of matches as a suspension,” said the legendary coach.

On February 14, at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium on matchday 24, Sevilla drew 1-1 with Alavés and, towards the end of the match, Almeyda came face to face with referee Iosu Galech Apezteguía, who showed him the red card. “El Pelado” tried to confront him again but was separated by staff and substitutes.

After the match, the referee filed a damning report, stating that the coach confronted him with gestures and shouts of disapproval, and then refused to leave the technical area. In light of this, the Disciplinary Committee handed him:

“I consider it unfair. Whether it’s more or fewer matches, it could have been avoided. Nothing justifies people’s reactions, but my expulsion is unfair and a lot of this could have been avoided,” Almeyda said in a press conference. “All human beings make mistakes, but in my case, there were no insults. Reactions are another matter,”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.