October 28 – Barcelona have reported La Liga president Javier Tebas to Spain’s highest sports court, the Administrative Court of Sport (TAS), after he questioned their players’ conduct in last weekend’s 3-2 win at Valencia when Lionel Messi scored a stoppage-time penalty.
Valencia have been fined €1,500 for a bottle-throwing incident but Barca were also cautioned by the Spanish FA for goading the home fans.
Tebas said that Barcelona’s players provoked Valencia supporters and, after Brazilian forward Neymar was struck by a bottle, stated he would be ‘ashamed” to have acted in the same way as some players whom he accused of going down ‘like a game of skittles’ after the incident.
Tebas’ declared: “The most serious thing is the thrown bottle, but some players acted in a way we don’t like.”
Barca are now seeking action against Tebas, with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu saying: “Making statements regarding the actions of the players adds even more tension to a situation that must be de-escalated. The declarations made by Tebas are irresponsible and unbecoming of a sports executive.”
“FC Barcelona have 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.”
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