Real Madrid appeal after protest rejected
442 Staff - Thursday 05 May 2011, 16:12
BERNE - Real Madrid have appealed against
UEFA's decision to reject their protests over the behaviour of
Barcelona players and the sending-off of midfielder Pepe in the
first leg of their Champions League semi-final last week.
UEFA said the case would be heard by its appeals body on May
16 in the latest twist following the bad-tempered clash between
Spain's biggest two clubs.
Barcelona won the first leg 2-0 at the Bernabeu on April 27
and qualified for the final with a 1-1 draw in the return at the
Nou Camp on Tuesday.
Real Madrid had accused Barca players of play-acting and
diving during the Bernabeu game.
The club said Barcelona had shown "non-sporting conduct" and
their players had "persistently simulated aggression against
them (Real) with the sole aim of provoking errors from the
referee," while adding that Pepe's dismissal had been unfair.
The protest was dismissed on Monday when UEFA also threw out
Barca's complaint against Real over comments by the Madrid
club's coach Jose Mourinho.
The controversial Portuguese belittled the achievements of
his counterpart Pep Guardiola and suggested there was a
conspiracy among referees to favour the Catalan club.
The saga will continue on Friday when Real face a UEFA
disciplinary hearing over their own behaviour, including the red
card given to Pepe plus allegations of missile-throwing and a
pitch invasion.
The tribunal will also look into the red card against
Mourinho for his protests over the Pepe sending-off and his
subsequent comments about Barcelona.
Barca's reserve goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto, sent off in a
touchline skirmish in the same game, will also face disciplinary
proceedings.