Sevilla Coach Almeida on Real Madrid Sending Off: "Silence is Betrayal, I Am Not a Traitor or a Circus Clown"

Sevilla coach Matías Almeida reacted to his team's defeat against Real Madrid, expressing strong dissatisfaction with his sending off during halftime, which he described as arrogant.

Almeida stated, "Sometimes referees must be held accountable. I protested after a foul was called, and when I received a yellow card, I asked why, only to be surprised that I was then sent off. This arrogance is saddening."

The coach added, "Referees have microphones. In every match we play, I and other coaches protest, but a respectful protest remains legitimate for me. This referee said he was tired of me talking about respect. I hope the audio recordings are reviewed, because sending people off becomes easy without them. There are witnesses, and they should always be present in life, that's what I've learned. I won't offer any justification; it's a matter for conscience. I sleep with a clear mind."

Almeida continued, emphasizing, "I am not a circus clown; I have my history in football. What happened today is absurd; in fact, I feel ashamed to even say it. Nothing will change just because I am Sevilla's coach. We are the team that receives the most yellow cards. Men talk and solve their problems. Silence is betrayal, and I am not a traitor. When this man's (the referee's) lack of humility overshadows friendly dialogue, we turn sports into tyranny. This deeply pains me. I didn't want to talk about this, but I have to. Please, journalists, request the audio recordings. At some point, they will have to suspend a referee. I have never seen two penalties awarded in two minutes; the refereeing was very poor. I congratulate Real Madrid on their victory, and I am not saying they won because of that; titles speak for themselves."

Sevilla lost 2-0 to Real Madrid in a match that saw significant protests from Sevilla players regarding the referee's decisions.