Antony and Alex Scott sent off as Bournemouth and Real Betis friendly boils over in Seville

A pre-season friendly turned spicy in Seville on 8 August when Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Real Betis' Antony were both sent off after a confrontation that sparked a brawl involving players from both sides.

The flashpoint arrived just before half-time. Real Betis midfielder Nelson Deossa, fouled by Bournemouth defender Bafode Diakite, responded by kicking the ball at Diakite while he was on the ground. Hands were raised, words were exchanged, and Antony and Scott pushed each other before the referee showed both of them red cards — reducing each side to ten men (BBC Sport). The Daily Mail reported that the incident descended into a broader brawl between the two squads.

There was a football match happening before all of that, and a decent one too. Marcus Tavernier had given Bournemouth the lead in the 41st minute, slotting home to cap a bright opening spell for the Premier League side. The red cards reshaped the contest but did not kill it off. Cucho Hernandez pulled Betis level in the 57th minute, only for Evanilson to restore Bournemouth's advantage. Pablo Fornals, formerly of West Ham, had the final say — levelling late on to make it 2-2 (BBC Sport).

For Antony, the red card is an unwelcome footnote in a career that has been under scrutiny since his big-money move from Ajax to Manchester United in 2022. The Brazilian winger joined Real Betis seeking a fresh start, and a sending-off in a friendly will not define that — but it is hardly the impression he wanted to make.

For Bournemouth, the bigger picture is what comes next. The Cherries have one more warm-up match scheduled, against German side Mainz on 15 August at 14:30 BST, before their Premier League campaign opens against Manchester City on 23 August (BBC Sport). Manager Andoni Iraola will want the focus back on football by then.

Pre-season friendlies are supposed to be about fitness and rhythm — low stakes, no points, a chance to shake off the summer rust. When the competitive edge tips over, as it did at the Benito Villamarin, the fixtures can produce the kind of theatre nobody planned for. Both managers will hope the only headlines from here on come from the football.