Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has had his ban for poking Barcelona counterpart Tito Vilanova in the eye overturned.
The Portuguese had been banned for two games following the incident on the touchline towards the end of a Supercopa de Espana match last year, with Vilanova sanctioned for a match after his retaliatory slap to Mourinho’s neck
However, reports in Spain have confirmed that both bans have been lifted in an act of clemency by Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Angel Villar on Tuesday
Even so, not everybody was happy with the decision and Barcelona secretary and spokesperson Toni Freixa stated that it was a form of aggression that ´sets a bad example`.
“This pronouncement does not mean the aggressor is innocent but that he can continue attacking people with impunity,” Freixa told a Press conference.
“We believe it sets a bad example to Spanish football that an assault such as this has gone unpunished.”
The decision means both Mourinho and Vilanova can now sit on the bench for this year’s edition of the Supercopa de Espana between Madrid and Barca, scheduled for August 23 at the Camp Nou and August 30 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
