Football
Adriana Garcia, Spain correspondent 6y

Sevilla supporters to protest one-game Spanish Supercup vs. Barcelona

Two of Sevilla's leading supporters' groups will boycott the Spanish Supercup final against Barcelona next month in Tangier, Morocco, and have requested that others follow.

Sevilla opposed the decision made by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), favoured by Barcelona, to play the final as one game instead of across two legs because of Barcelona's participation in the International Champions Cup in the United States.

The Federacion de Penas Sevillistas San Fernando and Biris Norte, Sevilla's ultras, condemned the RFEF's ruling and do not want members to attend.

"The problem is when it's done late, poorly and to benefit the economic interests of one of its participants [by] prioritising a friendly in San Francisco over an official competition title," Biris Norte said in a statement.

Barcelona will face Roma outside San Francisco on Aug. 4, the day before the first leg of the Supercup was supposed to be played.

Sevilla, who had already included one leg of the Supercup as part of their season-ticket holders' package, do not expect a big attendance at the game in Morocco, which will be held Aug. 12 at the Stade Ibn Batouta.

"We've always come out as losers when valued against another team," Sevilla football director Joaquin Caparros told El Desmarque. "The stronger team always prevails, which is Barcelona. ... I understand the fans because, not just as football director or as a member, I put myself in the shoes of our fans and I sympathise with them."

Caparros, meanwhile, said Sevilla have not received offers for Steven N'Zonzi, who has been linked to moves to Barcelona and Arsenal.

The midfielder, who has a €40 million release clause, has reportedly been interested in leaving Sevilla since last summer.

"If a team comes along with a very interesting offer for him, we will listen," Caparros said. "He is a good player and we want him with us. But contracts are contracts. He has two years left on his contract, not four, five or six months. If the player wants [to leave], he knows what the process is at our club to leave."

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