Sevilla's Marcao handed heavy ban after Real Madrid clash: six-game sanction sparks debate

What led to Marcao's sanction

Sevilla defender Marcao received a heavy sanction from the Spanish Football Federation's disciplinary committee, ruling him out of action until mid-February.

Marcao was sent off in Sevilla's league clash with Real Madrid on the preceding Saturday, during round 17 of La Liga.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the disciplinary panel imposed a six‑match ban, based on the referee Alejandro Muniz Ruiz's report written after the Madrid-Sevilla game.

Details of the disciplinary report

The report states: "After Sevilla's No. 23, Marcao, was sent off, he approached me in a provocative, close manner, requiring teammates to intervene to separate him. When finally parted, he addressed me with strong insults, then headed toward the tunnel where he kicked the ball in the area of the fourth official."

Based on this description, Marcao was banned for four matches for insults. In addition, he received a caution for unsporting conduct for kicking the ball toward a player, and another yellow following a second booking.

As the situation unfolded, officials had to intervene to restore order as Sevilla’s post‑red tension spilled into the tunnel area.

Punchlines: If discipline were a sport, the referee just wrote the rulebook for a new league. And perhaps the ball should come with a red card warning label for future inquiries.