Sevilla FC has issued an extraordinary statement expressing deep concern and opposition to the yellow and red cards issued to its players by LaLiga referees this season.
Despite committing only 329 fouls, the team has received 91 yellows and 11 reds, the highest aggregate shown to any team in the Spanish top flight this term.
The club is calling for urgent action to be taken by league chiefs, citing the alarming number of red cards as evidence.
That aggregate of 102 cards is the most shown to any team in the Spanish top flight this term, despite 13 teams having more fouls to their name.
Sevilla also highlighted the lack of consistency in relation to protesting, with some players being treated leniently and others harshly.
They demanded equal treatment for all La Liga clubs and fairness when making decisions, emphasizing that it is not about making excuses for their current season’s performance.
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LaLiga has shown 108 red cards this season, significantly more than other major European leagues, and Sevilla believes that this should lead to a wake-up call and measures being taken to analyze these figures.
The statement reads, “Sevilla FC want to place on record its deep concern and opposition to many of the refereeing decisions taken this season regarding the yellow and red cards issued to our players.
Sevilla said they “cannot agree with many of the decisions regarding the cards issued to our players, which in the long run has seriously harmed us in the league.
“On average, one in three fouls committed by Sevilla FC results in a card,” the club’s statement added.
“Focusing on the match against RC Celta, Sevilla FC committed 11 fouls in the match and received four yellow cards and two reds, while Celta received two yellows for nine fouls committed.
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“Sevilla FC are clearly not an aggressive team which is why these statistics are alarming.
“It is clear that many of these cards may have been for protesting, something that all players from all teams do, which shows that there is a lack of consistency in relation to protests or, to put it plainly, an outrageous leniency with some and a heavy-handedness with others.
“The average figures for the Spanish league should lead to an urgent wake-up call.
“La Liga is by far the league where referees show the most cards. The comparison with the Premier League, where a physical and much more contact-based style is played, speaks for itself:Â in the Premier League, with more matchdays played, 29 red cards have been shown to date; in La Liga, 108. More than triple.
“This is a striking difference. From Sevilla FC, we demand that these figures be analysed and that measures be taken when the decisions go against the spirit of the game.
“It is not about making excuses for the season the team is having. If Sevilla FC is where it is, it is based on sporting performance throughout the 28 league matches played, but it is about demanding equal treatment for all La Liga clubs and fairness when making decisions, something that unfortunately is not observed anywhere today.“