Sampaoli bristles over banishments

Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli, who was sent to the stands as his team crashed out of the Champions League at Leicester City, said he did not know why he and Samir Nasri were banished by Italian referee Daniele Orsato.

On-loan Manchester City midfielder Nasri's moment of madness arrived shortly after Foxes goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel parried a shot from substitute Joaquin Correa.

Nasri took exception to a Jamie Vardy push and the two squared up forehead to forehead. The Frenchman made a headbutt motion and England striker Vardy flopped to the ground, prompting a second yellow card for the former Arsenal man.

After awarding Sevilla's penalty, Orsato compounded the visitor's woes by sending the protesting Sampaoli to the stands.

"Nasri? He contributed a lot when he was on the pitch," said Sampaoli. "I don't know about his red card, I was very far away from it and I couldn't see him.

"My dismissal? I don't know why it happened. I think the fourth official got it wrong because all I did was complain about a bad goal we conceded.

Sevilla also squandered a penalty in the first leg, and Sampaoli concurred when it was suggested his side had a "psychological problem" with spot kicks.

Sevilla's La Liga title hopes have faded after consecutive 1-1 draws with Alaves and Leganes, and Sampaoli said fatigue might have been a factor in its Champions League exit after Leicester won 2-0 on Tuesday.

"It's hard to compete on two fronts in the league and the Champions League. That creates a certain amount of stress," said Sampaoli, who has been touted as a possible replacement for beleaguered Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

"But even so, we dominated this game in terms of possession, as we did in the first leg.

"Games can turn on little things. Escudero went close and they went and scored the second goal, which was decisive."

Agence France-Presse