mama-gee:

^^That wasn't even worthy of a red card at all. . .

The referee is crazy!

mama-gee:

^^That wasn't even worthy of a red card at all. . .

The referee is crazy!

usbcable:

within the last few days
I observed a great sense of fear from the ranks of Barcelona supporters here
most talked so much about trying to get a draw, and only a tiny handful had envisaged they could actually win.
now they won 2-0
the song has suddenly changed

Sadly I couldn't see the match, but feelers I get point to the fact that the red card's were undeserved, and sadly my barcelona colleagues here even the most respected ones amongst them refuse to acknowledge it. and that says alot about their perceived courageousness.

But just as my very good friend Pharoh said ''its not over yet'' and I believe so.

and just as they were drooling about before the return leg of the league classico about giving us another ''manita'', they've started yanking about again like poisoned ivy's without a remedy.

its just amazing how a single man can so much put fear on a whole myriad of barcelona fan/player/COACH/mgt.

Mourinho is indeed a great person, and even in defeat he will forever remain ''the special one''

AjanleKoko:

Courtesy Dayokanu, not photoshopped

What do you think about the challenge? Let's all be objective. Remember 4 yellows and a red had already been showed before this.

usbcable:

4 yellows to both teams players of which non was Pepe's
and
1 red card to a goal keeper that would not suit up to even play.

Walahi I would be dissappointed in you of all people if you continue this way.
If it was eyo or holy or dipsex i wont be surprised and I would definately care less for one rudeboy.

usbcable:

@ Ajanlekoko,

I vividly remember reading through the barca thread, where you all(except for eyoniggar) accussed Guardiola of being ''naive'' and ''misread'' the past matches.

So dont give me that bull crap that Guardiola is now a master in mind games.

He got fed up with mou's antics and he voiced his discontent and thats it nothing more and nothing less.

lest I forget, Congratulations on the victory

usbcable:

^^^

and I ask you all,  please answer this question

was Pepe's foul a Red Card offence?

usbcable:

check the video clip and say if its worth the card.

http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1330054873516/noticia/Noticia/Television_images_show_that_Pepe_did_not_touch_Alves__leg.htm

AjanleKoko:

From Madrid's website?

Seriously, don't sulk. Even Scholes can argue that he didn't touch Zabaleta. Pepe should not have shown studs. If he had actually made serious contact with Alves, his leg could have been broken, a la Eduardo. Referees usually punish intent.

See the tackle on Eduardo that broke his leg. You think Alves should have left his leg there for Pepe to break?

[flash=350,400]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2s0Sz54BAY?version=3"[/flash]

eyoniggar:

2nd led would probably be a fierce battle. Because you guys wud probably come out to play. Hope JM
fields higuain ,kaka and play some open football. I am predicting a 2-1 win in favor of Barca,Until then
allow me to celebrate with my many cans of Heienekens.

usbcable:

scholes tackle got zabaleta on the thigh, meaning the boots were more or less horizontal.
pepe's ''lunge'' was below the calf, was not horizontal and it didn't in the least touch alves. So Mr. AJ how are they same talkless of ed's broken leg.
am getting disgusted by the kind of arguments being put forward by all you bunch.
its appalling to say the least.

We all try to defend our clubs but when people you aften see as being more objective than you on most occassions show a base outlook towards the truth then its a real shame.

AjanleKoko:

Courtesy Dayokanu, not photoshopped

What do you think about the challenge? Let's all be objective. Remember 4 yellows and a red had already been showed before this.

mama-gee:

How is that supposed to affect the thread/ issue at hand?

The play that changed the course of what was an evenly-fought match was not worthy of a red card

Realmadrid.com

Much has been said and written concerning Pepe’s send-off against Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal, but an image speaks louder than words and video from Realmadrid TV clearly shows the player only touched the ball. Thirty minutes remained in the match and the referee sent Pepe off with a direct red card following a lose ball dispute between Alves and Pepe. The rest of the play has been publically scrutinized far and wide. Alves, who obviously appears to be in pain, abandons the pitch on a stretcher. After consulting with one of his assistants, German referee Wolfgang Stark shows Pepe the red card one minute after the play took place. Once he saw the decision made by the referee, Alves made his way back onto the pitch in full stride.

It wasn’t the only controversial play of the match, however. Arbeloa and Pedro were involved in another incident. Thirty-nine minutes into the first half, the Madridista defender blocked Barcelona forward’s running lane. There was shoulder-to-shoulder contact, but no aggressive intent. Pedro fell to the turf and clutched his face, and the entire Barcelona bench stood up to continue protesting for the foul.

An ugly gesture that appears to have become a constant. Look no further than the images of the incident between Marcelo and Busquets five minute earlier; another lose ball and again, the Barcelona player ends up on the turf. It wasn’t Alves this time, but Busquets. The dive is just as obvious as Marcelo’s expression of surprise. Marcelo protects the ball with his body and Busquets goes over the Madridista defender's back and blatantly falls to the floor with his hands over his face. Another unsportsmanlike gesture and more fuel to the fire for the referee to deal with. It lasted for 90 minutes as millions around the world watched on the small screen.

The sports world cries out
Rio Ferdinand: "This diving is a joke/embarrassing. When Pedro watches that do you think he'll think, "What was I doing!?" Rugby players must laugh at football. If you ever see me go off on a stretcher then run back on to play, I give everyone on here the green light to him me with a two-footed tackle."

Michael Owen: "Alves' actions won't please many as if he had got straight up it would have been a yellow card, but Barça fans will be happy with his actions."

Rory Mcilroy: "Dani Alves, you are a disgrace. Roll about on the floor just a bit more!"

Chad Ochocinco: "I can't believe they just gave Pepe a red card for that."

Upon learning of the unprecedented decision by F. C. Barcelona to lodge a formal complaint against Real Madrid C. F. coach Jose Mourinho with the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body, Real Madrid C. F. announces that it is obligated to follow suit concerning the repeated unsportsmanlike behavior of F. C. Barcelona, whose players consistently feigned aggressions with the sole purpose of misleading the referee of the match, which clearly led to the unfair decision to dismiss our player Pepe.

It is surprising that this chain of unsportsmanlike conduct and unfortunate decisiones finally culminates in the lodging of a complaint against our coach Jose Mourinho who, beyond opinions based on his right to freedom of speech, expressed his objection to victory at any price and the violation of the principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship established in Art. 7 of the Preamble of the Statutes of UEFA and Art. 5 of its Disciplinary Regulations, by which Real Madrid C. F. expresses its full support of its coach.

Reyes, Rodriguez and Suarez discuss Real Madrid's chances of winning the Euroleague

Realmadrid.com

With Real Madrid about to head to the Euroleague Final Four, Felipe Reyes, Sergio Rodriguez and Carlos Suarez discussed the team's chances during an adidas promotional event. The three also sent a message of encouragement to their football counterparts: "All is not lost. You are a great team and anything can happen. It could be a great week for the both of us in Barcelona. We can win there."

Reyes:
"Winning Europe’s top prize in the city belonging to our arch nemesis would be very special. It’s a shame Barcelona is no longer in it because it would make it all the more special, but we haven’t accomplished anything yet. It’s going to be a tough road, but we will play our hearts out. We are a young team, but we have plenty of experience in these kinds of games. There is a lot at stake and we know what we have to do to win the Final Four. We are very motivated."

"Panathinaikos is probably the favorite after eliminating Barcelona, who won last year and this year hosts the Final Four. But I think all four teams are on a level playing field. We are all strong and powerful, so the games could go either way."

"Maccabi players are fast and can run the court. They also have solid players in the paint like Schortsianitis. We need to prevent them from running fast breaks. We don’t fear anyone or anything, but we must be careful in several facets. We want to have fun and play our game."

Rodriguez:
"There are several key factors being that it’s only a one-game series. Anything can happen. In a knockout tournament like the Final Four there is no team that is better than the next. You can rest a little easier knowing that you made it through the qualifying round and beat good teams in getting here. We are relaxed and excited about our chances. The Final Four is a special event, and this year it is even more important because it is being held in Spain and we are the last Spanish team standing."

Suarez:
"I think fans are excited about this competition and we hope to make them very happy."

L'Equipe: "The biggest mistake in the game was Pepe's send-off"

Realmadrid.com

The world press coincides in deeming the red card Pepe saw against Barcelona as unfair and decisive in the outcome of the game.

Pete Jenson, The Independent (UK)
"Pepe was shown a red card for a challenge on Dani Alves after the break with the theatrical reaction to the foul ensuring the card was red and not yellow, as it should have been."

Daily Mirror (UK)
"Real defender Pepe went on 62 minutes for a studs-up challenge on Dani Alves. It was a yellow card at worst. But the Barcelona players surrounded Stark like a pack of wolves to demand action. The official panicked and produced red."

Jacopo Gerna, Gazzeta dello Sport (Italy)
"Harsh send-off. Without Pepe's questionable red card on the 61-minute mark the match couldn't have ended the way it did."

L'Equipe (France)
"In a match plagued by errors and confrontations, the most noteworthy was Pepe's send-off."

Marca (Spain)
"An excessive red card for Pepe left Real Madrid with ten men a fourth time against Barcelona."

AS (Spain)
"Stark's mistake was to call a red card when it should have been yellow, but his greatest sin was to deprive us of football."

El Mundo (Spain)
"Once again, Real Madrid ended the match with ten men against Barcelona following Pepe's challenge on Alves, interpreted by the referee as violent when a yellow card would have probably sufficed."

ABC (Spain)
"Stark arrived and made a mess of things by booking Pepe with a red card when it should have been yellow at worst. He killed the tie with one blow. He destroyed Real Madrid and gave wings to a Barcelona side that had begun to give way."

La Gaceta (Spain)
"Germany's worst referee unfairly sent Pepe off and killed the semifinals."

El Pais (Spain)
"Pepe tackled Alves on the right leg. The red card could have been yellow, but referee Wolfgang Stark sent the Madridista off."

dayokanu: