Guard of dishonour
Deco and Eto'o miss out on acknowledging the champions
Last updated: 7th May 2008
Deco: misses El Clasico
When Frank Rijkaard was asked about it - before he knew that those two players had said - he said it's a shame, these things happen. But then a journalist told him they (Deco and Eto'o) had said that actually they didn't know they were one yellow from suspension and he just turned round and said 'They're lying'.
Guillem Balague
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Barcelona will be forming a guard of honour for the champions Real Madrid in El Clasico - but without Samuel Eto'o and Deco.
The pair were both booked in the 6-0 romp against Valencia and will miss Wednesday night's clash in the Bernabeu when they were supposed to be applauding the newly-crowned champions onto the field.
And the suggestion from Spain is that rather than being an accident, Eto'o and Deco's bookings were deliberate, bringing dishonour to the guard of honour.
"They got yellow cards when they were both in a position on the field where they shouldn't have done that," explained Guillem Balague. "So both miss the next game.
"I am telling you they miss it because they have five yellows - so they get suspended - and they said at the end of the game, both of them, that they didn't know they were one yellow from suspension.
"Now, when Frank Rijkaard was asked about it - before he knew what those two players had said - he said it's a shame, these things happen.
"But then a journalist told him they (Deco and Eto'o) had said that actually they didn't know they were one yellow from suspension and he just turned round and said 'They're lying'."
Controversial
Lying or not, neither will be there.
But their absence has added a spark to what already promises to be a contentious issue - in Catalunia at least - despite the efforts of Raul.
The Real Madrid skipper, who led Sunday night's celebrations after a 31st league title had been secured, believes there will be no problem between the players come Wednesday night.
Or at least those Barca players that will be present.
"Look, if one team are champions then you make the tunnel and that is that," he told Revista. "But what happens in the build-up to such an event is that people get talking, it gets controversial.
"People say things like 'I won't come onto the pitch' in this instance because it will involve the two biggest clubs in Spain, the world even, but that respect has always been part of the game.
"I think that some comments are whipped up but in reality it will run smoothly."
