5 most controversial El Clasico moments in the 21st century

Lionel Messi gets into a spat with Sergio Reguilon
Lionel Messi gets into a spat with Sergio Reguilon

#3 Pep Guardiola uses expletives at a press conference

Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho
Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho

While Pep Guardiola managed Barcelona in 2011, Jose Mourinho was in charge of Real Madrid. Notably, Mourinho is perhaps the only manager capable of riling Guardiola into a 45-minute rant during a press conference which contained some profanities.

Lashing out at Mourinho for calling him Pep, and responding to assertions from the former Madrid coach about his criticism of referees, Guardiola ranted:

"As senor Mourinho has called me Pep, I'm going to call him Jose. Tomorrow at 8.45pm we will face each other on the pitch. Off the pitch he's won. He's been winning off the pitch all season. Let them give him a Champions League for it so he can enjoy it and take it home. In the press room he is 'el puto jefe' (the f***ing boss) and the one who knows more than everyone else."

#2 Sergio Ramos wildly kicks Lionel Messi

Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi
Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi

It doesn't come as a surprise to any Barcelona fan that he's on this list. Ramos has been a troublesome part of many El Clasico controversies, but his worst comes in form of a wild tackle against Lionel Messi in 2010.

Barca angrily rallied against Ramos, who received a red card for his efforts, but the consequences of his tackle exceeded the game. International Spanish players on both teams grew a lot of animosity towards each other, with Gerard Pique making his ill-feelings about Ramos very clear. Players like Iker Casillas and Xavi helped to settle the matter, but there is no love lost between the sides.


#1 The Jose Mourinho eye poke

Jose Mourinho pokes Tito Vilanova's eye
Jose Mourinho pokes Tito Vilanova's eye

By even El Clasico standards, Mourinho's antics in 2011 were spectacularly unacceptable. During the curtain raiser of the season in Spain, Marcelo picked up a red card after wildly fouling Cesc Fabregas, which prompted a violent brawl on the field.

While players were punching and pushing each other (along with getting their fair share of red and yellow cards), Mourinho took it to the next level by seeking out Tito Villanova and poking his eye. The then-assistant coach reacted by pushing Mourinho away, unable to do much else.

Quick Links