Mourinho to face eye-poke charges

The Spanish FA has confirmed Jose Mourinho will face charges for poking the eye of Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova on Wednesday.

The 48-year-old Real Madrid boss was seen poking Vilanova in the eye during an ugly brawl at the end of the Spanish Supercopa second leg, which Real lost 3-2 at the Nou Camp, and the RFEF confirmed on their website they would take action against Mourinho.

“After examining the images sent by the press area, in accordance with Article 22.1 of the Disciplinary Code, the RFEF agrees that, firstly, disciplinary proceedings will be taken against Jose Mourinho, after carrying out actions that, at this time are purely circumstantial, could be in violation of Article 98 and/or Article 100 of the RFEF Disciplinary Code,” the statement read.

“Disciplinary proceedings will also be taken against Francesco Vilanova for carrying out actions that could be in violation of Article 111 and/or Article 122 of the RFEF Disciplinary Code.”

Meanwhile, Mourinho’s spokesman Eladio Parames has denied claims he told French TV channel Canal+ that his client was contemplating a shock departure from the Santiago Bernabeu because of insufficient backing from the Madrid board.

“These statements supposedly made by me are absolutely false,” Parames told Marca, while claiming that another person had sent a text message to the channel with the quotes from an old mobile telephone he no longer uses.