Real Betis will appeal Antony's expulsion to the Competition Committee

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Antony
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Betis' legal team will submit arguments to the RFEF Competition Committee for the red card shown to Antony by Navarrese referee Iosu Galech, at the request of the VAR, in Sunday's match at La Cartuja against Girona. The expulsion entails, initially, a one-match suspension, which would leave the Brazilian forward out of the derby next Sunday against Sevilla.

At the Verdiblanco club, they believe that the yellow card initially shown by the referee was the appropriate punishment for the action, in which Antony accidentally hits Joel Roca in the face while attempting a bicycle kick inside the box. They consider that there is no excessive force or an action that could be classified as "serious foul play". After Betis' arguments, it will be up to the Disciplinary Committee, or ultimately the Appeals Committee in case of a subsequent appeal, to decide whether to maintain or overturn the sanction.

Manuel Pellegrini stood up for the player in the press conference: he stated that, on the field, it is clear that Antony is going to shoot with his back to the opponent and without the intention to hit him, although he admitted not having seen the play in detail. Isco Alarcón was even more explicit in assessing the play: he insisted that the Brazilian goes for the ball, does not see the opponent, does not hit him with the studs, and has no intention to harm, although there is a dangerous action. The Betis captain also lamented that, with this referee, "two gray actions" have ended with "the maximum punishment" for Betis, casting doubt on whether it is mere coincidence.

Even Míchel, Girona's coach who theoretically benefited from the expulsion when his team was struggling to hold the draw, expressed reservations about the decision: he mentioned that he had not been able to review the play, but that if the striker is clearly going to shoot and it is not an aggressive action, he does not agree with showing a red card for that type of action.

The objective of Betis is for Antony's red card to be rescinded or, at least, for the action not to be considered as aggression, which would imply a sanction of more than one match.