Sevilla FC lost two points in injury time of the duel against Levante after the expulsion of Isaac Romero, a fact that has generated indignation among the fans and has called into question the impartiality of the refereeing. The referee, under the pressure of a rain of water bottles falling on the players, showed the second yellow card to Romero for the gesture of putting his finger in his mouth while celebrating the 2-3 goal, an action that the referee interpreted as provocation towards the stands.
Luis García Plaza, club commentator, stated that with eleven players on the field the result would have been different, underlining the importance of the expulsion in the outcome of the match. In turn, sports director Cordero Vega has accused the referee of unequal treatment, comparing it to previous incidents in which players from other teams were not sanctioned for similar gestures, such as the case of Iker Losada during Levante's visit last season.
The incident is not isolated. In the history of the League, only John Carew, in a match between Athletic and Valencia 26 years ago, was sent off for a similar gesture; However, the card was annulled after appeal. Now, Isaac Romero becomes the second player in the history of the competition to be sent off for that reason.
The debate has intensified on social networks, where Sevilla fans compare the sanction with the lack of warning for players who have made provocative gestures on other occasions, such as Vinícius himself during visits to Real Madrid or Sergio Ramos's gesture in the Copa del Rey.
The club has requested a review of the decision and it is expected that the arbitration will be analyzed by the disciplinary commission. Meanwhile, Sevilla will continue looking to recover lost points and prevent the controversy from affecting their league campaign.