The north end areas of the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium will remain closed for three official matches after the disciplinary committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed that objects thrown from this sector were decisive for the penalty imposed. As detailed by Europa Press, the federation asked Sevilla to precisely identify the areas from which the shots started, a requirement that was deemed necessary to determine which access would be restricted.
According to Europa Press, the punishment comes in response to the events that occurred in the final minutes of the derby match against Real Betis, when it was revealed that various objects – including lighters and bottles – were thrown from the stands towards the field. One of these objects collided with Betis’ goalkeeper, Alvaro Vallés, causing a danger that led to the match being temporarily stopped. Referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero made the decision to stop the match in the 88th minute, extending the suspension for more than a quarter of an hour, until safe conditions were guaranteed for the players and technical staff. The confrontation finally ended with a score in favor of Real Betis, 0-2.
These behaviors were reflected in the disciplinary file opened by the Spanish Football Federation, which classified the incidents as “very serious” as Articles 76.2 and 15 of the Federation’s Disciplinary Code had been violated. Europa Press reported that the punishment includes partially closing the stadium for three matches, in addition to a fine of 45,000 euros and a two-date suspension of striker Isaac Romero. According to the statement issued in this regard, the Federation considered it necessary to limit the restrictions to the specific areas where the quarrels occurred, thus focusing the effect of the measure on the responsible cores and avoiding collective punishments for the entire local fan base.
Regarding the financial penalty, the Spanish Federation said that the amount coincides with the need to punish events that threaten the safety and physical integrity of athletes. Europa Press reported that the regulation stipulates the temporary closure of venues and the imposition of high fines in those cases that pose risks to the system while celebrating sporting events. The Federation stressed in its decision that the detailed report required from the club aims to exclude areas not participating in the events from closure, in an effort to reduce the impact on revenues and internal operations in sectors of the stadium not related to the events.
On the sporting front, Isaac Romero’s two-match suspension was supported by photos and a referee’s report describing an action outside the scope of a legitimate dispute over the ball that was implemented when the match was stopped. Europa Press reproduces the arguments of the Disciplinary Committee, which places the attacker’s behavior as an offense subject to maximum penalties under federal regulations, seeking to discourage the recurrence of this type of behaviour.
In view of the decisions adopted by the Spanish Football Federation, Sevilla FC immediately expressed, through a memorandum carried by Europa Press, its opposition to the severity and scope of the sanctions. The club announced the processing of appeals through the channels established internally in the Federation, as well as ultimately considering referring the dispute to the regular judiciary in the event that federal disciplinary procedures are exhausted in advance. In its argument, the Andalusian entity argues that both the amount of the fine and the access restriction are disproportionate, taking into account the efforts made by the Council to identify those responsible and cooperate with the investigation.
The statement signed by Sevilla and compiled by Europa Press reiterates the institutional commitment to preventing violence in stadiums, and asks the disciplinary authorities to appreciate the club’s active role in clarifying the facts and cooperating with the security forces. The club’s position is that such measures should be taken into account when calibrating the proportionality of sanctions imposed.
However, the Federation stresses the importance of strictly identifying the affected areas, reiterating the necessity of receiving the required report before applying the penalty. Europa Press reported that the Spanish Football Federation insists on restricting access only to those directly related to the incidents. The purpose of this is to prevent regular attendance and income generated by the stadium from suffering unjustified losses in areas not responsible for the events recorded in the arbitration report.
The effect of punishment combines consequences in different areas. On the one hand, the partial lockdown restricted the attendance of fans and forced the club to reorganize the conduct of three consecutive home matches in Sanchez Pizjuan. On the other hand, the absence of Isaac Romero reduces the first team’s sporting options and requires redesigning the tactical strategy in the coming dates. According to Europa Press, these circumstances precipitated the immediate intervention of the legal field of the Seville Club and the preparation of a set of allegations before the disciplinary bodies of the Federation.
For its part, the Federation affirms its defense of the rigor adopted in the procedures and supports its position on the need to protect integrity and security in football settings, as well as setting a precedent for managing future cases of violence in professional football. As reported by Europa Press, the Spanish Football Federation maintains the clubs’ commitment to fully cooperate with disciplinary instructions and protocols as a deterrent in similar situations.
Finally, Europa Press reports that the development of the case will henceforth depend on appeals filed at the federal level, and ultimately at the judicial level, if the club decides to expand the dispute in this way. While the appeals are processed, the sanctions remain in effect and their implementation is subject to Sevilla’s compliance with the official requirements of the Federation, in particular those referring to the precise identification of the areas concerned and cooperation in the disciplinary process.