Barça go to war on LaLiga chief and RFEF disciplinary committee
Barcelona have reported Javier Tebas and the members of the Federation panel over their responses to Saturday's bottle incident.
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Barcelona have gone on the attack against LaLiga president Javier Tebas and the Spanish Football Federation's (RFEF) disciplinary committee over their responses to the incidents that took place in the side's league victory at Valencia on Saturday.
Valencia were fined 1,500 euros this week after a plastic bottle was hurled at Barça's players from the Mestalla stands as they celebrated Leo Messi's last-gasp winner, with Los Che also warned future infringements will lead to ground closure.
Disciplinary committee critical of Barcelona players
In its ruling on the events, however, the disciplinary committee also criticised the behaviour of the visitors, deeming their reaction to the thrown bottle as excessive and describing them as "not setting an example" and "ridiculing themselves".
"Certain gestures and actions by members of the FC Barcelona team upon celebrating their winning goal are blameworthy," it stated, noting: "Certain members of the aforementioned football club simulated injury without having the launched object actually impact on their person."
LaLiga chief on players' reaction: "I'd be embarrassed"
Tebas also found fault with Luis Enrique's men over their conduct, speaking disapprovingly of Neymar's apparent provocation of the Valencia fans and telling SportYou: "It looked like a game of ten-pin bowling. We've all seen those images."
"There are millions of children watching us," he continued. "If my children saw me feigning [injury] or something, I would be embarrassed."
Club ask for proceedings to be opened, condemn Tebas
And having responded on Wednesday with a statement slamming the RFEF's “outrageous” view of the incident, Barça have now called for Spain's Administrative Court for Sport (TAD) to take action against Tebas and the members of the committee.
In a communiqué revealing the move on Thursday, the club blasted both parties' "unacceptable public declarations and assessments regarding the FC Barcelona players", and declared: "FC Barcelona publicly condemns Mr. Tebas [...] the Club hereby fully withdraws its confidence in him from this moment forth."
Barcelona's statement in full:
"FC Barcelona has formally requested that the Administrative Court of Sport (TAD) open disciplinary proceedings against Javier Tebas, who is the President of Spain’s La Liga, and the members of the Competition Committee, as a result of their unacceptable public declarations and assessments regarding the FC Barcelona players, who were attacked during last Saturday’s match versus Valencia CF at the Mestalla Stadium.
As a result, and following established procedures, the Club today is officially presenting both cases to Miguel Cardenal, the Secretary of State for Sports and the President of the National Sports Council (CSD), so that he may bring them before the Administrative Court of Sport, the body which will be tasked with making a decision on the reported incidents.
At the same time, FC Barcelona publicly condemns Mr. Tebas as the President of the LFP and the Club hereby fully withdraws its confidence in him from this moment forth."