Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has told the press that the disciplinary committee should have to explain why they reduced Nacho Fernandez’s three-match ban.
The Real Madrid defender was sent off against Girona for a horrendous challenge on Portu, which saw him leave the stadium in an ambulance, albeit he was recovered by the following week.
Nacho was then handed a three-match ban, but after Real Madrid appealed it, the ban was reduced to two games on the basis that Portu was not injured for the next game.
Xavi had declared in the lead up to the questions whether he thought there was a campaign from Madrid against Barcelona, and stood behind his president in that regard.
Within that context, he was asked whether he was surprised at the fact Nacho had had his ban reduced, allowing him to play El Clasico the following weekend. He was asked if the decision to reduce the ban was the result of the ‘sociological Madridismo’.
“That’s a question for the [disciplinary] committee. It’s a surprise. We suffered Lewandowski’s three games due to a gesture last year and we appealed, and they didn’t reduce the ban for us. Just for touching his nose.”
“Nacho… It’s a challenge that endangers the player, and as an athlete it surprises me. At the very least, it’s surprising.”
He was then asked about it again, and doubled down on his stance.
“I’ve already said, it surprises me. Last year we didn’t get a reduction on Lewandowski’s three for touching his nose. It’s a total surprise.”
There is little doubt that Barcelona can feel hard done by regarding the ban with Lewandowski, as his gesture should not be punished more harshly than a challenge that endangers the safety of the opposition.
However there is scope for the reduction of Nacho’s ban within the rules. The RFEF appear to be taking a soft disciplinary line on serious fouls in general this season, with Nacho’s challenge also coming directly after Chimy Avila’s vicious stamp on Alvaro Morata. The Argentine forward was handed a one-match ban for the incident, which also seems much more serious than the Lewandowski gesture, but there is precedent.
His club are currently embroiled in multiple bribery scandals, yet he’s talking about other clubs being favoured.
“It’s a challenge that injures a fellow professional”
Is xavi living in another world?
Portu playing the following game clearly states that there was no injury.
Did he also believe that Portu broke his leg like the “bribELona intellectual elite” here on FE? Perhaps he is sniffing same substance?
If this was Ramos it would have been understandable since he is a repeated offender (as laporta is in court rooms).
But Nacho had no intent to injure the player, he went for the ball and failed horribly.
There was no injury.
Hence reduction of ban.
Its obvious that xavi has been instructed to talk about nonsense to divert attention from the fact that yet another president is in court yet another time.