Sevilla FC Appeals Dodi Lukebakio’s Red Card Before Leganés Match

Sevilla, Spain – Sevilla FC is set to file an appeal regarding the red card received by Dodi Lukebakio during last Thursday’s match against Osasuna, which could prevent him from playing against Leganés this coming weekend.

The club’s legal team believes they can contest the referee’s report filed by Cordero Vega, claiming there was an error in judgment. According to the report, the Belgian player was sent off for “striking an opponent in the head with excessive force while the ball was in play.”

However, video footage shows that Lukebakio actually freed himself from the opponent’s grasp by using his forearm, not his elbow, striking an area between Catena’s back and neck rather than the head. The club argues that the action did not involve excessive force but rather was a continuous movement of the arm.

Additionally, the referee did not review the incident on the VAR monitor, unlike a previous decision involving a red card for Pablo Ibáñez.

Cordero Vega’s report notes that Lukebakio was able to continue playing after receiving medical attention on the field, which the club feels supports their case for a successful appeal. Sevilla hopes the Committee of Discipline will recognize the misjudgment in the report.

“We will appeal the decision,” said Joaquín Caparrós, Sevilla’s coach, during a press conference following the match. He highlighted that other similarly assessed cases may have received lighter punishments and expressed hope for Lukebakio’s availability in the upcoming games.

As it stands, if the appeal fails, Lukebakio is likely to receive a one-match suspension, meaning he will miss the game against Leganés. Given the critical stage of the season, the club is eager to retain the services of their key player for future matches.

Following the incident, Lukebakio took to social media to express his frustration, stating, “Making mistakes is human, but with VAR, there’s no excuse. It’s unacceptable!!” He later deleted that post and replaced it with an apology, emphasizing his appreciation for the support from fans.

With the appeal pending, all eyes will be on the Committee of Discipline to see if they will uphold or overturn the referee’s decision against Lukebakio.