- Sevilla's 2-1 victory over Granada in
La Liga on Sunday ended in mayhem. - The referee blew the final whistle too early, after which players left the field and took off their shirts and boots.
- They were then asked to get dressed again and play the remaining time.
Sevilla's 2-1 victory over Granada in La Liga on Sunday ended in mayhem after the referee mistakenly blew the final whistle a minute early, before insisting players come back and finish the game despite many of them already having left the field.
Sevilla took the lead at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium in the 16th minute when Ivan Rakitić slotted home from the penalty spot, before Lucas Ocampos doubled the home side's advantage early in the second half.
Granada then gave itself a late lifeline through Roberto Soldado's 90th minute penalty, leaving the visitors with four added minutes to find an equalizer.
However, after only three of the four allotted minutes, referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea then blew the whistle.
As Granada players protested, Sevilla players headed down the tunnel, some removing their shirts and boots.
Bengoetxea's mistake was then confirmed following a review from the video assistant referee. After the review, the Spanish official insisted Sevilla's players come back on and finish the game.
They did, managing to see out the final minute without conceding to earn a crucial victory in the chase for the La Liga title.
-The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) April 25, 2021
Sevilla now sit just three points off the top of table in fourth, with victory also clinching its place in next season's Champions League.
"I've never seen anything like this. Some of our players had taken off their kit," said Sevilla's Ocampos after the match.
"We've achieved the club's first objective and now we have five games left, all of which are like finals. We're very motivated and very excited. Our hope is still intact."
Sevilla next faces Athletic Bilbao on May 3.