Sevilla FC suffered a 1-3 defeat to Barcelona in their final La Liga match before the international break, a game marked by Brazilian winger Raphinha's complaints to referee Martínez Munuera about the home side's physical approach. The loss leaves Luis García Plaza's side fifth in the table with 13 points from seven games, eight points behind the league-leading Catalans.
The match, played last Saturday, saw Raphinha as the undisputed protagonist with a hat-trick for Barcelona. Youssouf Fofana had put Sevilla ahead in the 19th minute, but the Brazilian's three goals in the 22nd, 52nd and 69th minutes turned the game around.
Tense exchange with the referee
The release of the referee's microphone audio on Tuesday revealed a tense exchange between Raphinha and Martínez Munuera. The Barcelona player repeatedly urged the official to call fouls for Sevilla's marking. "Until you call one or two fouls they are not going to stop doing this," Raphinha told the referee during the second half.
Martínez Munuera, for his part, tried to calm the situation by asserting he had it under control. In another incident, during a tussle between Fofana and Raphinha before a throw-in, the referee warned both players. "That's not football, that's judo," the official told them.
Technical Committee's assessment
On Tuesday, the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) issued an assessment on the officiating of a controversial action in the match, stating it "could have been better". The controversy adds to a defeat that halts Sevilla's positive momentum, having secured back-to-back wins against Valencia and Deportivo prior to this setback.
The team now heads into the international break with the confirmed absence of Rubén Vargas, whose status can be followed in our injuries section. The league resumes on October 12th with a trip to face Levante, who currently sit 17th. Sevilla, fifth with 13 points, will look to get back to winning ways in that fixture to maintain their pace in the upper reaches of the standings.
The report in full is at ABC Deportes
