Real Sociedad coach David Moyes has been banned from the touchline for two games by the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) following his sending-off in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey game at home to Villarreal.
Moyes made light of his first dismissal since taking over in San Sebastian in November last year by leaping over a fence into the stands to watch the rest of the match before accepting an offer of chips from a girl sitting behind him.
He was cautioned for protesting a decision in the last 16, second-leg match and was booked again and sent off for complaining about an offside with about 10 minutes remaining. Villarreal held Sociedad to a 2-2 draw and advanced to the quarter-finals 3-2 on aggregate.
Photo: AFP
Moyes was suspended for one game for the sending-off and one for climbing into the stands, the RFEF said on its Web site on Friday.
“I shouldn’t have argued with the referee, but I thought both of the decisions were incorrect,” Moyes told a news conference earlier on Friday.
“But I left the dugout and I went to watch the game in the stands,” the former Manchester United and Everton manager said. “I am a football supporter as well and I wanted to watch the game with the supporters.”
Photo: EPA
“I’ve been a supporter all my life,” he said. “I go to a lot of football games and I though the supporters were very good. So yeah it happens and whatever comes around I’ll have to accept.”
Sociedad are 12th in La Liga on 19 points from 18 games.
CORDOBA 1, EIBAR 1
Mikel Arruabarrena equalized in the second half to give Sociedad Deportiva Eibar a draw against Cordoba in La Liga, in a game that saw both teams reduced to 10 men.
Cordoba scored within seconds of the kickoff as Borja Ekiza headed the ball for Romania forward Florin Andone to hit a low shot past Eibar goalkeeper Xabier Iruretagoiena.
An error by Eibar defender Borja Ekiza gifted the ball to Cordoba for one of the fastest goals scored in the league this season.
However, Arruabarrena rose over Cordoba’s defense to head a Saul Berjon cross past goalkeeper Juan Martin in the 73rd minute.
Eibar are eighth on 27 points, while Cordoba are 14th on 18.
Real Madrid led the standings on 42 points, while Barcelona were second on one less ahead of the rest of the weekend’s games.
LIGUE 1
Midfielder Alassane Plea scored a last-minute winner as OGC Nice rallied to win 2-1 against Girondins de Bordeaux and climb to 10th place in Ligue 1.
Promising Uruguay forward Diego Rolan put Bordeaux ahead from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute with his first club goal for more than two months.
Left-back Jordan Amavi equalized midway through the second half when he profited from poor marking to turn in a free-kick from midfielder Valentin Eysseric.
The 22-year-old Plea then grabbed his third league goal of the season after good work from midfielders Nampalys Mendy and Eric Bautheac.
Bordeaux, who have lost three of their past four league games, were in sixth place ahead of the rest of the weekend’s games.
Olympique Lyonnais have 42 points from 20 matches, one point ahead of second-placed Olympique de Marseille, three ahead of AS Saint-Etienne and four clear of fourth-place Paris Saint-Germain.
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