Sevilla-Real Madrid tensions continue to simmer

Real Madrid’s Aitor Karanka was unable to resist an attack on the Spanish football federation ahead of his club’s cup meeting with Sevilla.

Sevilla host Real at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in a Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on Wednesday, with tensions mounting in the build-up.

Holders Sevilla have dragged up a past controversy in which they believe Real director Jorge Valdano influenced the referee to have a player sent off in a match between the two clubs at the same stage of the competition in 2004.

The strained relations between Real and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) also worsened this week when the federation released a sarcastic statement noting that the performance of the referee in the cup tie would be closely observed by Real’s Portuguese boss Jose Mourinho, who has been critical of officiating in the past.

They later attributed the comments to a mistake from a work experience student.

The latest provocation was a television advert in which Sevilla players strip the waist and cover themselves in war paint.

The advert used a Portuguese phrase that left no doubt as to its intended target: Mourinho.

“We are going to leave you without a title,” the slogan said.

Real assistant coach Karanka – sent to the pre-game press conference in place of Mourinho – responded to the provocation from Sevilla and also pounced on the opportunity to question the impartiality of the RFEF.

“They want to get themselves up for the match, but painting your face and using a slogan in Portuguese when you are facing Madrid is obviously something that heats things up,” Karanka said.

“We will see if the (RFEF) committee decides that this deserves punishment, or if this only happens to our manager for his statements.”

“The squad is thinking about the Copa del Rey semi-final, against a Sevilla side who have been very successful in this competition in recent years. Madrid will try to make sure that it is us in the final this year. But for us there is no war.”