Sevilla FC voices concern over refereeing decisions and disciplinary trends in La Liga
Residents of Seville have spoken out about perceived imbalances in officiating and the severity of sanctions on the pitch. In a formal statement released after a recent 2-2 clash against Celtic, Sevilla FC expressed deep concern and rejected several refereeing calls that affected their players with yellow and red cards throughout the season.
During the match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, Sevilla midfielder Gueye was sent off after committing two fouls, one on Renato Tapia and another on Iago Aspas, resulting in two cautions. Marcos Acuña also received a red card late in stoppage time following a clash where he addressed officials in a manner that drew a later disciplinary review. This sequence of events led to questions about consistency in officiating and punishment across teams.
According to the club, Acuña later maintained on social media that he did not direct the insult described in the match report, while acknowledging the charged atmosphere in the stadium may have influenced perceptions. The Argentine left back, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, emphasized his intent not to use an offensive term, hoping for a fair interpretation of the events within the match environment.
Sevilla subsequently criticized the Spanish refereeing system, arguing that some cards represented protests or tensions common to many teams, rather than clear disciplinary breaches. In a formal statement, the club refrained from comment on individual referees while noting the overall impact of perceived inconsistency on their campaign.
Within the club’s public remarks, data were cited to illustrate the broader pattern: Sevilla FC ranks among the teams with the highest total number of fouls and disciplinary actions in the league. They pointed to their position as the 14th in the league standings but emphasized being positioned among those clubs that receive a large share of red and yellow cards. The club highlighted that, based on their analysis, they face frequent fouls and cards compared with other teams, raising concerns about proportionality and criteria used in disciplinary decisions.
The club stated that on average a significant portion of Sevilla’s offenses results in cards. In a recent contest with RC Celta, Sevilla committed 11 fouls and received four yellow cards and two red cards, while Celta incurred two yellows for nine fouls. While the data provide a snapshot of one match, Sevilla argued it reflects a broader trend rather than a single incident, suggesting a need for a more balanced approach to officiating and a consistent standard across matches.
The conversation extended to a broader league-wide comparison. Sevilla pointed out that La Liga has a higher rate of cards issued compared with the Premier League, which is often associated with a different style of play. The data presented by the club indicated that the Spanish league has shown considerably more disciplinary action in recent seasons, prompting calls for a review of refereeing criteria and enforcement practices to ensure fairness across clubs and matches.
Ultimately, Sevilla asserted that any critique of the season should focus on the sporting merits achieved on the field while also insisting on equal treatment and uniform criteria across La Liga clubs. The message underscored a desire for transparency and accountability in officiating decisions, with a call for measured sanctions that reflect the action on the pitch rather than emotional reactions from the stands.
Source attribution for the discussed events is acknowledged to Goal in the public record.