Mourinho defended against calls for disciplinary action

Jorge Valdano, the Real Madrid director general, has leapt to the defence of Jose Mourinho after the State Commission against Violence called for the Portuguese coach and Sporting Gijon counterpart Manolo Preciado to face disciplinary action.

The commission requested that the Spanish Football Federation take "appropriate disciplinary action" after the two coaches conducted a war of words ahead of their meeting last weekend, with Mourinho claiming Preciado had "gifted" a victory to Barcelona several weeks ago by fielding a weakened team.

Preciado told Mourinho he would have been "thrown in jail" in England for making such an accusation, branding him a "swine". The commission said the comments "contributed to the creation of a hostile climate between the participants and supporters".