Real on offensive after complaint

Jose Mourinho
12 April 2012

Real Madrid have responded to Barcelona's decision to report Jose Mourinho to UEFA by announcing that they were going to lodge a report with European football's governing body, accusing the Catalan club's players of "feigning aggressions" during Wednesday's Champions League clash.

Those two announcements came after UEFA had confirmed earlier in the day that both Spanish clubs will face disciplinary hearings following incidents during the ill-tempered semi-final first leg at the Bernabeu, which Barca won 2-0.

Madrid said that after learning of Barca's decision they were "obligated to do the same concerning the repeated unsportsmanlike behaviour of Barcelona, whose players consistently feigned aggressions with the sole purpose of misleading the referee of the match, which clearly led to the unfair decision to dismiss our player Pepe".

Two of the five charges against Madrid are related to the conduct of boss Mourinho, firstly for his dismissal during the match - after he was sent off for protesting against the red card shown to Pepe - and the other relating to his "inappropriate statement" during the post-match press conference.

Mourinho implied Barca receive favourable treatment from referees and claimed the Catalan club had yet to win a "clean" Champions League title under Pep Guardiola.

Mourinho said: "It's clear that against Barcelona you have no chance. I don't understand why.

"I don't know if it's the publicity of UNICEF [the club's shirt sponsor], I don't know if it's the friendship of [Spanish football federation president Angel Maria] Villar at UEFA, where he is vice-president, I don't know if it's because they are very nice, but they have got this power. The rest of us have no chance."

He added: "Guardiola is a fantastic coach, but he has won one Champions League which I would be ashamed to win after the scandal at Stamford Bridge and this year, if he wins it again, it will be after the scandal at the Bernabeu."

The first 'scandal' Mourinho referred to was the Champions League semi-final between Barca and Chelsea in 2009, when the former progressed to the final following a controversial second leg when the London side had four penalty claims turned down. Barca won the final against Manchester United in Rome.

Following an extraordinary board meeting at the Catalan club on Thursday afternoon, spokesman Toni Freixa said Barca "want to defend the history, prestige and reputation of our members, fans, players, coaches and directors, who with their hard work and their effort won the 2009 Champions League. It's unacceptable that someone questions our titles and our links with UNICEF."

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