The Double Standards of RFEF towards Barça is pathetic.

Another Clásico came and went and once again, we got to encounter another controversy regarding Mourinho’s Real Madrid. Everyone saw Pepe’s intentional act of stepping on Messi’s hand and although no swift action was taken, it was expected that the RFEF would use video evidence to go after Pepe. Unfortunately, RFEF failed to punish Pepe and he was back in the starting lineup. This was just another example of how the RFEF have double standards and quite frankly it is getting to be pathetic.

With Madridistas whining about Barça getting calls in their favor and calling for Villarato, this past week gave us another fine example of how it truly is Barça against Spanish football figureheads. The recent Copa Clásicos presented viewers a unique chance to see every angle imaginable thanks to the 28 cameras available at the Santiago Bernabéu. Well, we have all grown accustomed to the Madrid players’ dirty and pathetic cheap shots on Barça players, especially when they are down.  Nevertheless, it still surprised us all that Pepe intentionally stepped on Messi’s hand. He got away it on the pitch but we were certain that the RFEF would sure that he would get disciplined for that act.

Yet, there was Pepe starting in the starting lineup in yesterday’s game. The RFEF opted not to lay a finger on a man who stepped on another player’s hands. How could this be? It was another obvious sign of double standards from the RFEF and a shining example of how inept they truly are. Their competitive neighbors, the Premier League, wasted no time in making sure Mario Balotelli would get suspended for his actions on Sunday. Replays showed Balotelli stamping on Scott Parker during Sunday’s league encounter between Manchester City and Tottenham. The FA charged him two days later with violent conduct and he is awaiting his punishment.

Meanwhile over in Spain, we all waited and waited yet nothing seemed to happen. No word on any action against Pepe came during the weekend. So we all expected a final decision to be made yesterday, on the day of the second leg. Unfortunately, the RFEF and its Competition Committee decided not to punish Pepe because there was no mention of Pepe’s incident in the referee’s report. The decision in not punishing Pepe was an insult to not just all Cules, but to all football fans across world.

However, Barça fans had to be aggrieved. How could they not punish Pepe? Why is it that the RFEF has different standards when it comes to punishing Barcelona players and punishing Real Madrid players? Back in the 1999-2000 season, the RFEF had no problem punishing Barça player Patrick Kluivert for punching Rayo Vallecano’s Cota by banning him for five matches. That was a league match and the incident was missed by the officials but caught by the cameras. So why was Kluivert banned while Pepe walked?

Speaking of Pepe; it was also ironic that the RFEF failed to punish him last season too for his Butifarra gestures after celebrating Ronaldo’s goal in the Copa Del Rey Final. When these two sides last met in the Copa Del Rey back in the 96-97 season, Brazilian striker Giovanni scored what turned out to be the game winning goal in Madrid. He is famously remembered by Barça fans for celebrating that goal with his Butifarra gestures in front of the Madrid crowd. However, the RFEF was not too pleased and he was banned for two games. Now fast-forward to last season’s Copa Del Rey Final. Pepe committed the same act and yet, he escaped punishment from the RFEF. Even UEFA punished former Barça player Mark van Bommel with a fine a few years ago when he committed the same gesture after scoring against Real Madrid in the Bernabéu for Bayern Munich.

 

Yet, the RFEF and its Competition Committee failed to punish Pepe twice now when they punished Barça player for similar conduct and actions in the past. Madrid may cry Villarato as much as they want, but the RFEF’s cowardly decision not to punish Pepe at all just shows that perhaps the Spanish capital club is the club that is getting the favors after all. We know he won't get punished for attempting to step on Dani Alves too yesterday.