Real Betis will be unable to count on their midfielder Sergio Canales for the next four games due to a sanction to be imposed by the Spanish FA, as reported by Estadio Deportivo.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side play Atlético Madrid at the Estadio Metropolitano on Sunday as the two teams compete for European spots. The loss of one of their main creators, alongside the injury of Nabil Fekir, will no doubt be a heavy blow for Los Verdiblancos.
Canales was sent off against Cádiz by referee Mateu Lahoz on 19 October 2022, with the player receiving two separate yellow cards within five seconds of each other. The reasoning given was that Lahoz had booked Canales and instructed him to stop talking or he would see red, and so showed the second yellow as soon as the Spanish player tried to defend himself.
The Cantabrian, who was sent off for the first time in his career, explained afterwards that the first yellow was for attempting to argue with the referee and was accompanied by a threatening “If you keep talking I’ll send you off”. The second, immediately afterwards, was for telling him “OK, if you don’t let me talk then don’t ask me personal questions or anything about my family”.
This incident clearly did not sit well with Canales who spoke out after a game against Real Valladolid, which was also reffed by Lahoz, on 18 February. The midfielder said he avoided interacting with the referee and followed by commenting he believed his dismissal had been premeditated. He will now miss four crucial games for the Andalusian side.
Nicolás Antúnez de Mayolo | GSFN
