Real Betis have refused to play their up-coming league game with Barcelona away from their Ruiz de Lopera stadium despite being ordered to do so by the Spanish FA.
Betis were hit with a two-game ban from their stadium plus a 9,000 euro fine after a fan threw a bottle at Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Armando Ribeiro when the two sides met in a league game in Seville on March 15.
Alternative locations in Seville were initially sounded out by the club, but it was reported that the RFEF were keen for the game to be played outside of the city, with venues in Jerez and Cordoba being mentioned in the Spanish press.
On Tuesday the club released an official statement accusing the RFEF of "coercing" the club into playing the game outside of Seville - a move they see as being "virtually impossible" and a "punishment for their fans".
Then on Wednesday the club announced they would not look for any other venue for the Barcelona game on Saturday, claiming they will not take any action until their appeal against the ban has been heard by the Spanish Competition Committee.
With the appeal still pending, the club's legal advisor Manuel Castano claims the club will not move to a new venue as there is now not enough time.
"Betis will not designate any other stadium because, from a practical and operational point of view, it is impossible to do so in 72 hours for a game of this magnitude," Castano told Spanish newspaper El Mundo.
"I think we will play at the Ruiz de Lopera because it is impossible for a club like Betis to give out 40,000 tickets to season ticket holders.
"Then there are important security issues plus the matter of where to place the supporters."
Castano also ruled out the possibility of playing in another stadium in Seville, saying: "It is practically impossible for a stadium like La Cartuja (Seville's unused Olympic Stadium), which is in poor condition, to be ready in 72 hours to host a game like Betis-Barcelona."
However the RFEF are annoyed that Betis are using the proximity of the game as an excuse, claiming the club has known about the ban for a week.
"The RFEF warned Betis about the necessity to find a new stadium last Wednesday," RFEF general secretary Jorge Perez told Spanish daily Marca.
"This means they have had more than enough time to have organised something."
According to the newspaper, Betis were informed by fax to look for an alternative venue, but as the fax was sent during Seville's Holy Week festival no-one was at the club to receive it until Monday.
Castano added that the club would go through all the legal routes available to them to ensure that they do not have to move away from their stadium.
He said: "The FA can can inform us today of the stadium in which they feel the game should be played. We will go to the Appeals Committee and in the case of an unsuccessful appeal on Friday we would go to the Sporting Disciplinary Committee.
"Once we have exhausted all the sporting administrations we will go through the regular justice system.
"My advice to Barcelona is book a hotel in Seville."
Alternative locations in Seville were initially sounded out by the club, but it was reported that the RFEF were keen for the game to be played outside of the city, with venues in Jerez and Cordoba being mentioned in the Spanish press.
On Tuesday the club released an official statement accusing the RFEF of "coercing" the club into playing the game outside of Seville - a move they see as being "virtually impossible" and a "punishment for their fans".
Then on Wednesday the club announced they would not look for any other venue for the Barcelona game on Saturday, claiming they will not take any action until their appeal against the ban has been heard by the Spanish Competition Committee.
With the appeal still pending, the club's legal advisor Manuel Castano claims the club will not move to a new venue as there is now not enough time.
"Betis will not designate any other stadium because, from a practical and operational point of view, it is impossible to do so in 72 hours for a game of this magnitude," Castano told Spanish newspaper El Mundo.
"I think we will play at the Ruiz de Lopera because it is impossible for a club like Betis to give out 40,000 tickets to season ticket holders.
"Then there are important security issues plus the matter of where to place the supporters."
Castano also ruled out the possibility of playing in another stadium in Seville, saying: "It is practically impossible for a stadium like La Cartuja (Seville's unused Olympic Stadium), which is in poor condition, to be ready in 72 hours to host a game like Betis-Barcelona."
However the RFEF are annoyed that Betis are using the proximity of the game as an excuse, claiming the club has known about the ban for a week.
"The RFEF warned Betis about the necessity to find a new stadium last Wednesday," RFEF general secretary Jorge Perez told Spanish daily Marca.
"This means they have had more than enough time to have organised something."
According to the newspaper, Betis were informed by fax to look for an alternative venue, but as the fax was sent during Seville's Holy Week festival no-one was at the club to receive it until Monday.
Castano added that the club would go through all the legal routes available to them to ensure that they do not have to move away from their stadium.
He said: "The FA can can inform us today of the stadium in which they feel the game should be played. We will go to the Appeals Committee and in the case of an unsuccessful appeal on Friday we would go to the Sporting Disciplinary Committee.
"Once we have exhausted all the sporting administrations we will go through the regular justice system.
"My advice to Barcelona is book a hotel in Seville."
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
Pique dismisses the doubters
Aussie teen snapped up by Valencia
