Barça present official complaint to UEFA about Mourinho's statements after the Champions League semi-final
FC Barcelona will present an official complaint about the Real Madrid manager to UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body for what it considers “a violation of basic standards of behaviour”. The UEFA already decided to look on Wednesday's events. In the evening, it was known that Real Madrid also decided to file a complaint against Barça players for going against fair-play. The latter accusation seems quite surprising after having watched the game and Real Madrid's behaviour on and outside the pitch.
Barcelona (FCB).- The FC Barcelona Board of Directors, called together by president Sandro Rosell for an extraordinary meeting, decided to make an official complaint to UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body about the serious accusations made by the Real Madrid coach in his press conference on Wednesday evening, after the Champions League semi final first leg. The Real Madrid counter-attacked with another complaint to UEFA, this time against Barça players for not playing with fair-play. Real Madrid's intention seems to be disqualifying Barça's complaint against Jose Mourinho's statements about FC Barcelona and UEFA.
Toni Freixa, secretary and spokesman of the Board, said after the board meeting that Barça "wishes to defend the history, prestige and honour of our members, supporters, players, coaches and directors thanks to whose work and effort the Champions League was won in 2009."
Unacceptable statements
Freixa added that the Real Madrid coach’s comments are “constitutive violations typified by article 5, letters B and D, of the UEFA code of behaviour; as a violation of the basic standards of behaviour and as actions that are damaging to the reputation of football and UEFA”.
The spokesman for the board said that FC Barcelona is taking this measure because it feels it “unacceptable for somebody to dare question our history, our titles and our relation with Unicef”. By lodging this complaint, Barça “wants to put out the fire” because it “rejects dialectic confrontations” and “trusts the disciplinary bodies”.
Refusal to water grass
As for Real Madrid’s refusal to water the Bernabéu stadium's grass an hour before the game, as had been agreed by the all-whites, Barça and UEFA, Freixa said that the Club made “a complaint in the referee’s report” and that the Club “has not received any explanation in this respect” from Real Madrid.
Absence of Catalan
On the absence of the use of Catalan on the Bernabéu sound system at the end of the game, Freixa said “it ignores the right to receive instructions in our own language”. According to Freixa, Madrid’s argument was that “the Police were opposed to speaking in Catalan because it could cause a disturbance of public order”. Finally, even though the Police authorised it, the club “did not invite the FC Barcelona employees to announce in Catalan”, at the end of the game.
Support for the first team
Freixa indicated that these actions enjoyed the support of the first team and its coaches and would never expect a Barça coach to speak the way Mourinho did. It was also confirmed that the club is waiting for a resolution regarding the suspension of Pinto and if they consider it “unfair” then an appeal will be made. Freixa added that these actions do not affect the institutional relations between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
UEFA investigations
Freixa also stated that UEFA has also launched investigations into Real Madrid for the throwing of objects, a pitch invasion, the red card shown to Pepe, the sending off of José Mourinho and the manager’s statements. And into Barça in relation to the red card shown to Pinto.