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Betis prepared to appeal in court

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MADRID, Spain -- Real Betis have said that they will follow the example set by other Primera Liga clubs in appealing against the three-match stadium closure imposed on them on Friday by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

The punishment was for incidents at their stadium in the King's Cup quarterfinal against Sevilla on Wednesday when visiting coach Juande Ramos was knocked unconscious by a bottle thrown from the stands.

The match was abandoned with Sevilla 1-0 ahead on aggregate.

"We had hoped we weren't going to be treated as scapegoats. This is a political decision not a legal one," a member of Betis's legal services Manuel Castano told Spanish media on Saturday.

"It's clear that since the RFEF had the nerve to change its rules to favor Barcelona in 2004, the first stadium they decided to close was ours.

"We will seek to do what other big teams have done and go to court if we have to."

Castano was referring to the way Barcelona avoided a two-match stadium closure imposed by the RFEF after events marred their match in 2002 against Real Madrid in the Nou Camp.

Missiles

That game was held up for 12 minutes when fans showered the pitch with missiles directed against former player Luis Figo.

After Barca's appeal was rejected they took their case to court and the RFEF eventually modified its disciplinary code so incidents like those at the Nou Camp would be punished by financial penalties rather than ground closures.

The RFEF agreed to allow Barcelona to serve the punishment under the new regulations, rather than the old ones, and the club were fined 4,000 euros ($5,272) instead of having their stadium closed.

Betis said they would use a similar line to contest the decision to play the remaining 33 minutes of the Cup second leg behind closed doors at Getafe's stadium on the outskirts of Madrid, on March 20.


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Sevilla coach Ramos was knocked unconscious by a bottle thrown from the stands.

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