Almeyda ban trimmed to five matches as Sevilla host Valencia | OneFootball

Sevilla head into their Valencia clash with a lift, as Almeyda’s touchline ban has been cut from six to five matches following a change to the RFEF Disciplinary Code, the club said in a statement on Thursday 20 March.

He will still be absent from the dugout on Saturday 21 March at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, but the reduction offers clear relief for the coach and the club ahead of a high-stakes LaLiga meeting.

Almeyda was originally handed a seven-match suspension after being sent off against Deportivo Alavés on 14 February. The TAD later lowered it to six.

Relying on a recent amendment to article 127, which reduces the minimum sanction for protests to officials from two to one match, Sevilla’s legal team sought retroactive application. The Competition Committee accepted the request.

Sevilla still deem the punishment excessive and will continue to pursue available legal avenues to defend their coach. With both sides needing points, the 21:00 kick-off carries extra weight, and Saturday will mark the final match of Almeyda’s suspension.

Source: Superdeporte