Barcelona have made an official complaint to two former Real Madrid players who they say justified Los Blancos midfielder Isco kicking Blaugrana attacker Neymar during last month's Clasico at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
Late in that game, with Barca already 4-0 ahead, Madrid substitute Isco fouled Neymar and was shown a straight red card -- with La Liga authorities subsequently handing out a two-game ban to the Andalucian.
Isco was applauded by some Madrid fans as he left the pitch on the day, and his actions were also discussed by former players Manuel "Manolo" Sanchis and Hipolito "Poli" Rincon, who both work as pundits for the Cadena Cope radio network in Spain.
The comments from Sanchis and Rincon have been debated in the Spanish and Catalan media, and the Camp Nou outfit have responded by taking a case to the government body which upholds best practice and best behaviour in sport.
"The Legal Services of FC Barcelona have filed a request this morning with the Anti-violence Commission to open proceedings against former football players and current football commentators, 'Manolo' Sanchis and 'Poli' Rincon, for having publicly and repeatedly justified the act of aggression that the Real Madrid player Isco committed against the FC Barcelona player Neymar... an aggression which resulted in a straight red card," the statement said.
"On the day of the game, speaking into the microphones of the Spanish radio network, La Cadena COPE, both Sanchis and Rincon justified Isco's aggression on Neymar and, this past Sunday, they repeated said justifications, although Paco Gonzalez, the host of the COPE program, called Tiempo de Juego, gave them several opportunities to rectify their statements.
"But rather than make a retraction or apologise, Sanchis doubled down on his words from the day of the match, when he said that 'Neymar is going over the line, he isn't getting [hit] enough.' Rincon did the same, assuring that 'If I am there, I hit him, there should be no doubt that I hit him; me and anyone else.'
"FC Barcelona considers these statements to be an invitation to violence and therefore asks the Anti-violence Commission to act."
Sanchis has attempted to explain his position to Marca, saying that as an ex-player he felt that Neymar's behaviour on the pitch meant he was opening himself up to retribution from frustrated opponents.
"I do not justify in any way Isco's kick [of Neymar], and I am happy that he apologised, not everyone would do that," Sanchis said.
"Neymar is a very good player, maybe the most in-form player around at the moment. But his behaviour on the pitch is a different thing. During the Clasico there were other players who had spectacular games, like [Andres] Iniesta, and who left the pitch to applause.
"That speaks to the Madrid fans, it doesn't happen in all grounds. During the game I said on various occasions that I was not liking the attitude of Neymar.
"I know what happens, with the tension, the heart rate, and how gestures are interpreted, that is what I was asked about, and I saw what I knew was going to happen in the end. It is not defensible, but for those of who have played, certain gestures can, and I would say must, be avoided. That is my opinion."