Malaga's Al-Thani responds to Barcelona "scum" complaint
The Qatari owner of LaLiga clubb Málaga published a communication just two hours after the Catalan club said it would take the case to the Antiviolence and CompetitionLeganés vs Barcelona
FC Barcelona said on Thursday morning that they would be making a complaint to Spanish sporting authorities over comments by Malaga's Qatari owner Abdullah Al-Thani on Twitter describing the Catalans as 'scum'. Shortly after Al-Thani issued his own statement saying that his insults were directed towards the Catalan press, not the football club.
Rejection and indignation from Barcelona
'FC Barcelona expresses its rejection and indignation at the content of the tweet published by the president of Malaga, Abdullah Al-Thani, which is counter to the principles of fair-play, ethics and legality,' read the statement from the Spanish champions.
Al-Thani had responded to a message on Twitter from a Barcelona fan asking his club to do them a favour by beating Real Madrid on the last day of the season.
'God willing they (Real) will be flogged on the pitch. But the scum of Catalonia will not smell the league (title) after the lies they made up about coach Michel,' said the Qatari sheikh.
But the president took to Twitter again just a couple of hours after the Catalan club stated their intention to lodge a complaint with the Spanish authorities. In his communication he said:
'These words were directed towards the Catalan press, who said that Michel would throw the game. It is unacceptable, we don't throw games. They should plead forgiveness for the things they have said about him".
Michel loyalties and integrity questioned
Malaga are coached by former Real player Michel who has come under fire in the Catalan press, questioning whether he would rather his side lose to Real so his ex-employers can win the league. Michel himself had said he'd rather provide Real with a 'guard of honour' than a 'blow' when the European champions visit the Rosaleda on the final day of the season.
However, he added: 'But I'm a winner and I hope that before the final day everything is decided.'
Hay Liga: LaLiga title race is definitely on
Eternal rivals Real and Barca are level on points with less than a month of the season left. Real have a game in hand on Barca, who went top of la Liga by winning 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. Both teams followed that game up with emphatic victories midweek with Barça winning 7-1 at home to bottom club Osasuna, while Madrid's trip to Deportivo la Coruña ended in a 2-6 win.
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