Sevilla have slammed Real Betis players for appearing to mock the head injury suffered by Joan Jordan when hit by an object thrown from the stands in their contentious Copa del Rey clash.
As Betis players celebrated Nabil Fekir's equaliser at the Benito Villamarin on Saturday, an object – seemingly a long strip of plastic – was thrown from a home section behind the goal and struck Jordan right in front of referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea.
Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui called his players over as Jordan received medical attention on the touchline, and Bengoetxea subsequently ushered the teams off the pitch – many Betis players remained pitchside until the match was eventually suspended.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) arranged for the remaining 51 minutes to be played behind closed doors on Sunday despite Sevilla protesting the game should not be allowed to go ahead without Jordan, who was unavailable after being sent to hospital to be kept under medical supervision. Betis went on to win 2-1.
After the initial incident, several Betis players took to social media to openly accuse Jordan and Sevilla of milking the situation; Cristian Tello posted a video of the Sevilla midfielder defiantly slapping his own face in the direction of the home fans, which Willian Jose shared alongside several clown emojis.
Tello claimed Sevilla did not want to play, while Victor Camarasa accused Lopetegui of encouraging Jordan to exaggerate his condition – but Andres Guardado has attracted the most attention.
Following the victory on Sunday, Mexican veteran Guardado was caught on camera appearing to mock Jordan's injury by hitting himself on the head with a bottle and theatrically throwing himself to the floor.
He claimed that "at no time was I making fun of the act suffered by Jordan", but Sevilla have been left feeling "alone" in their attempts to ensure derby tension is only felt on the pitch.
"Sevilla strongly condemns the humiliation and attacks on honour suffered by our player Joan Jordan and the lack of respect towards our coach, Julen Lopetegui, about whom unsubstantiated comments have been made based on self-serving speculation," a statement read.
"The reality is that Jordan received the impact of an object thrown from one of the stands occupied by Real Betis fans during last Saturday's Copa del Rey derby, played at the Benito Villamarin.
"No one should ignore the objective data. Jordan was attacked, was treated in a hospital, had to rest at home due to medical prescription and was unable to play in the resumption of the game.
"The victim is Jordan. There is never room for mockery with a victim or comments to divert attention from what happened, a very serious incident.
"In this sense, Sevilla considers certain behaviour by some members of Real Betis towards Joan Jordan, Julen Lopetegui and the Sevilla fans to be unfortunate and unacceptable, seriously compromising the healthy rivalry that is generally experienced in the city of Seville.
"Sevilla believes that sports institutions and those who make them up must be the first to promote the values of respect and tolerance that are intrinsic to sport.
"Sevilla will continue working to reduce the tension and working so that the tension in the derbies is experienced only and exclusively within the field of play, although we feel alone in this mission."
Tottenham chief Paratici faces uncertain future after ban extended worldwide by FIFA
Tottenham managing director of football Fabio Paratici's future at the club has been cast into doubt after his ban by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) was extended worldwide by FIFA.
Paratici was one of 11 individuals connected with Juventus who were issued with bans by the FIGC in January after the club was found guilty of false accounting in relation to transfer dealings.
Juventus were also docked 15 points as part of the punishment.
Paratici and Juventus denied any wrongdoing, with an appeal against the initial sanctions imposed by the FIGC to be heard by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) on April 19.
Despite his 30-month ban, Spurs director Paratici was able to continue his role with the Premier League club because the suspension only applied to Italian Football.
However, FIFA confirmed on Wednesday the bans handed out by the FIGC have been extended worldwide, meaning Paratici will be unable to fulfil his duties at Spurs unless his appeal is successful.
A widely reported FIFA statement read: "FIFA can confirm that following a request by the FIGC, the chairperson of the FIFA disciplinary committee has decided to extend the sanctions imposed by the FIGC on several football officials to have worldwide effect."
The news comes just three days after the sacking of Spurs head coach Antonio Conte, with the Italian leaving after 17 months in charge.
Paratici, who would have likely played an important in appointing Conte’s replacement, appeared in a video on Tuesday outlining Spurs' plans for the rest of the season and describing the decision to fire the former Inter and Chelsea coach as "the right decision."
Fati's father wants son to leave Barcelona despite Ansu's wish to stay
Ansu Fati wants to stay at Barcelona, but his father has other ideas.
The 20-year-old, who has been with the club for a decade, has made 38 appearances in all competitions this season but 27 of them have come as a substitute.
Bori Fati – who manages his son alongside agent Jorge Mendes – has been left angered by the situation and believes the winger deserves more minutes for Xavi's side.
"If it was up to me, I would take him [to another team] but [Ansu] wants to stay at Barcelona," Bori Fati told Spanish outlet Cope.
"He does not want to sign for another club, but I want to see him succeed. As a dad, I am angry.
"Seeing Ansu play so little winds you up a little bit, and sometimes I think as a father, not a coach."
Fati, who has scored six goals this season, is under a long-term contract with Barca, who are 12 points clear at the top of LaLiga.
And despite his father's wish, Fati has previously stated his desire to remain with Barcelona, where he feels at home.
"I'm under contract with Barcelona until June 2027, and I hope to stay here for many more years," he said in February.
"I feel grateful and lucky to play for Barca and I have to thank the people who support me daily for their backing."
The situation led to Bori calling a meeting with Barcelona sporting director Mateu Alemany, and agent Mendes.
Alemany reassured him of his son's role at the club, though Bori remains unconvinced the situation will change.
"I called Mateu," said Bori. "He told us that Ansu is part of the club's heritage, and they have bet big on him.
"As a dad, I think differently, maybe I am wrong. He is your franchise player, the number 10, he took [that number] on when no one was ready to take it from [Lionel] Messi.
"What annoys me is how they're treating him in terms of minutes. One minute, two, three.
"I am not asking for him to be a starter, because all the forwards at the club are phenomenal, but we are talking about Ansu Fati, of Spain and Barcelona, who came through La Masia."
It is now at the point where Bori no longer wants to visit Camp Nou to watch his son play.
"If it carries on like this, I will go [back] to [the family home in] Seville and that's that," said Bori.
"I didn't go to the game against [Real] Madrid. I won't go to the stadium anymore.
"The other day Ansu asked me why I didn't go, he thought I was there. I told him I didn't fancy it."
Conte's Spurs exit no surprise to Vieri: 'He goes into conflict with everyone'
Tottenham should not have been surprised by how Antonio Conte's time at the club ended as he "goes into conflict with everyone", says Christian Vieri.
Conte joined Spurs in November 2021 after the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo and guided the north London club to a top-four Premier League finish at the end of his first season.
Despite sitting fourth again this season, performances under Conte were hugely inconsistent with Spurs falling to disappointing exits in the Champions League and FA Cup in recent weeks.
Following an explosive press conference in which the Italian labelled his players "selfish", he left the club on Sunday.
However, the breakdown in relations between Conte and the club was something former Juventus, Inter and Italy striker Vieri was expecting.
"Antonio goes into conflict with everyone, it's his character," he told Corriere della Sera.
"If you take him, you can't expect someone who shuts up and everything is fine with him. He is always on the edge, it's his way of being; you can like it or not, you know who you get.
"Every two years does he fight with everyone? Yes. Does he always leave with problems? Yes.
"You know he's demanding, serious, and it's hard to have him in your club, he doesn't let you sleep peacefully.
"They are choices. There are coaches like Conte and Mourinho who hammer at all hours, put pressure and always demand the best.
"And then there are those who are fine with anything, they stay there. Everyone trains and sees football in their own way, and it doesn't mean that this or that coach is right."
Conte's former assistant Cristian Stellini is set to take charge of Tottenham alongside Ryan Mason until the end of the season.
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