Sevilla Coach Matías Almeyda Slams Refereeing After Madrid Defeat

After Sevilla‘s 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, head coach Matías Almeyda did not hold back in his criticism of the officiating. The Argentine manager was sent off during the match, and he took the opportunity to express his frustration with the referees, particularly regarding a controversial red card incident and two penalties awarded in quick succession.

Almeyda recounted the moment he was shown a red card, explaining, “I was sent off for protesting a foul. But I’d like them to listen to the audio recordings because it’s easy to get people sent off. I’m not a circus clown; I have my own story, and I’m a man who engages in dialogue.” He continued to voice his displeasure about the officiating, stating, “Today the refereeing was very poor. I congratulate Real Madrid on their victory; they weren’t favored by it. I’m against the refereeing because of how badly he officiated, which is why I was sent off.”

The coach emphasized the need for better communication between players, coaches, and referees. “We had talks, and I participate in the dialogue between players and referees because we’re all part of the same game. Dialogue has to be possible,” he asserted. Almeyda believes that arbitrary yellow cards can undermine the spirit of the game, saying, “You can’t just hand out yellow cards for the sake of it; it hurts.”

Despite the loss, Almeyda praised his squad for their performance against a formidable opponent. “I want to thank my group of players for their commitment. We played well against an opponent with impressive players in their lineup,” he remarked. The manager noted that Sevilla approached the match with confidence and conviction, stating, “We came here to play as if we were playing at home. That’s our idea, what we’ve tried to do throughout this semester.”

Looking forward, Almeyda’s focus remains on instilling a strong identity within his team. “Sometimes it’s worked out well; sometimes less so, but there’s a clear idea and self-belief,” he concluded. The defeat leaves Sevilla with much to ponder as they navigate through a challenging season.