Madrid lodge appeal over revoked coaching license
The RFEF considers that Zidane's assistant is performing functions associated with a second coach even though he is listed as being "in charge of equipment".
Real Madrid have lodged an appeal to the State Sports Council (CSD) in an attempt to get the decision take by the Spanish Football Federation to revoke the license of Zidane's assistant, David Bettoni. The club describe Bettoni's role as being “in charge of equipment”. For that reason, Bettoni has not appeared in the technical area during Real Madrid's last two league matches against Espanyol and Granada.
The problem originates from the fact that Bettoni doesn't have the documentation which is required to act as an assistant coach. Since last summer, the Federation demands that all assistant coaches have the same qualifications as the head coach and Bettoni only has the ‘UEFA A’ license which is inferior to the ‘UEFA Pro’ license which allows coaches to carry out their duties with teams in the top three divisions in Spain.
To get around this requisite, Real Madrid listed Bettoni (defined as “Assistant Coach” on the club's official web page) as “in charge of equipment” with the Madrid Football Federation, the body in charge of processing registration of professionals (coaches apart) who are permitted in the technical area during matches.
The RFEF's Coaching Committee have investigated to see whether Bettoni's license corresponds with the functions he is expected to carry out and have reached the conclusion that it doesn't which is why they have withdrawn his registration.
Article 231 of the RFEF's regulations states: “only the coach, understood as the first or second coach, has the ability to leave the bench to give instructions to the team. Violation of this rule is liable to punishment according to the disciplinary code”.