Barça 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 FC Barcelona Board of Directors, called together by president Sandro Rosell for an
extraordinary meeting, has 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 yesterday, after the Champions League semi final first leg.
Toni Freixa, secretary and spokesman of the Board, has 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 has 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 has said that Barça 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 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.