Ballesteros has had just one top-10 finish in six years

Ken Schofield, executive director of the European Tour, has rejected accusations from Seve Ballesteros that golf officials are victimising the five-time Major winner.

Ballesteros was disqualified from the Italian Open last weekend for refusing to accept a one-shot penalty for slow play during his third round.

The 46-year-old called Schofield a "dictator" and described the European Tour as being "like the Mafia".

He said he was being picked on for insisting that the tour's finances receive an independent audit.

But Schofield told BBC Radio Five Live: "The idea that we would victimise any single player is actually unthinkable.

"Many of the comments Seve made in Italy were born out of his frustration at a very sad decline, one that's now entering its seventh year with only one top 10 finish.

"For a player of Seve's standing it must take him to the brink. I think that played a large part in his tirade in Italy."

Ballesteros incurred time faults at the 14th and 16th tees at the tournament in Brescia, incurring a one-shot penalty and his round of 75 had to be changed to a 76 which he refused to accept, leading to his disqualification.

"Changing his scorecard is the important issue in this," said Schofield.

"The other things really are a sideshow.

"The sadness of what happened is that here we have a great player who refused to take the referee's decision - our sport zealously guards the referee's decision being final."