He was nicknamed “The Chilean Gattuso” in his early years, but Sevilla’s Gary Medel (above, in slightly calmer times) seems to be making a good effort at stepping out of the intimidating shadow of the Italian and making a name for himself as a somewhat emotional midfielder of the highest grade.

Last night, during the Copa del Rey semi-final between Sevilla and Atletico Madrid, Medel, of Sevilla, was sent off. He didn’t agree with the news. He didn’t exactly respectfully disagree either. Instead he decided to go off in a fit of blind rage, kicking some pitchside garden furniture* into the faces of two police officers, while being dragged away from the pitch.

Sevilla drew 2-2 at home to Atletico Madrid in last night’s Copa del Rey semi-final second leg, meaning they went out of the competition 4-3 on aggregate, following a 2-1 defeat at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon stadium last month.

Sevilla went down by 2 goals before levelling the game. However, in the midst of the comeback, Medel lost his head and went on his anti-garden furniture crusade on the sideline.

Medel was compared to former Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso due to a quick temper and taste for a tough challenge. The Sevilla midfielder has often found himself making a name for himself thanks to his non-playing acts, such as being arrested for making death threats against a driver outside a supermarket, with a pellet gun, confronting an Ultras group over what he saw as unjust criticism of their team and falling out with his national team manager over a missed curfew (he was in a nightclub).

* Let’s take a moment to appreciate that there was plastic garden furniture at the side of the pitch.

Video of chair kicking

Extended video, including red card