The Spanish Federation has amnestied Jose Mourinho, and Barca fans are up in arms- well, all it seems, with the exception of Joan Laporta. The former Barca president said the federation chief Angel Maria Villar used his prerogative as newly re-elected president of the Federation to act on the side of generosity.

One can only presume that Laporta speaks as he does because he suffers from selective memory failure. The Federation it was that eventually turned a conciliatory blind eye to Barca when the club was sanctioned, then forgiven, for allowing a pig’s head to be thrown at Figo as he took a corner kick for Real Madrid at the Camp Nou some years back-not the gesture of a club that claims to be democratic.

The incident of the pig’s head is on  a rather small in  scale, nevertheless than Mourinho’s assault on Tito Vilanova,(the kind of incident  that would have been severely sanctioned in Rugby Union Football)  and the general psychological warfare he provoked at the highest level of Spanish football. I am referring not just to setting out to fuel the historic rivalry between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, but to turn this into an ugly brawl on and off the pitch.

Mourinho , a Portuguese national, believes that causing  controversy and taking responsibility for it motivates his players, and turns them into winners. Under him, Real Madrid have regained their status as one of the strongest and most successful teams in Europe. But his actions two seasons  ago came close to undermining the unity and team spirit that Vicente del Bosque had patiently develop.

Repeat performances by Mourinho of his role as agent provocateur can be expected in the upcoming season- but the Federation will lose all credibility if it turns a blind eye.