Sevilla Cuts Ties with Real Betis After Player Suspension Controversy

Sevilla has announced through an official statement that it is cutting all ties with its rival Real Betis, following a controversy that emerged during a recent derby. The issue revolves around the suspension of three Sevilla players after complaints from Betis regarding a provocative celebration involving an altered version of the Betis flag.

The incident took place during the last Sevilla derby in October. Three Sevilla players, Juanlu Sanchez, Jose Angel Carmona, and Isaac Romero, celebrated their team's victory by displaying a Betis flag with modified symbols, which sparked outrage from Betis supporters and officials. Betis filed an official complaint with the federation, leading to the suspension of the players.

Sevilla expressed its frustration over the handling of the issue, stating that the suspensions not only impacted the players but also prevented them from participating in important matches, including the farewell game of club legend Jesus Navas.

In their statement, Sevilla emphasized that the actions taken by Betis have escalated the rivalry to an unhealthy level, prompting their decision to end formal relations between the two clubs.