SK Rapid Captain Matthias Seidl Hit With Two-Game Ban Ahead of Historic Vienna Derby
SK Rapid has suffered a significant blow to its leadership as captain Matthias Seidl has been handed a two-match suspension following a reckless challenge in their recent clash with LASK.
The disciplinary committee of the Austrian Football Bundesliga issued the ban after Seidl received a red card during Rapid’s 1-3 defeat. The timing of the suspension is particularly damaging for the club, as it sidelines their captain for the most critical stretch of the season finish.
The incident occurred during stoppage time, where Seidl was sent off after a heavy foul. The decision was later confirmed in the official match review, which noted that the midfielder entered the challenge with “high intensity” and struck the opponent with “full force” in the ankle area. Due to the “risk to health” posed by the tackle, the referee’s decision to dismiss the player was upheld by VAR.
The suspension leaves the “Hütteldorfer” without their leader for two massive fixtures. Seidl will now miss the milestone 350th Vienna Derby against FK Austria Wien, scheduled for Sunday at 5:00 PM, as well as the final match of the campaign against SK Sturm Graz.
The stakes are high for both the player and the club. If SK Rapid fails to secure a position in the league’s European cup playoffs, the two-game ban will effectively end Seidl’s season prematurely.
