Jose Mourinho's eye-poke to one of Barcelona's assistant coaches was an ''act of arrogance and impotence'' that reveals the Real Madrid coach's obsession with beating the Spanish champion is beyond reasonable, according to former playing great Johan Cruyff.
Mourinho could be banned for up to 12 games for poking Tito Vilanova in the eye during a brawl toward the end of last month's Spanish Supercup, won by the Catalan club.
Former Barcelona coach Cruyff said in an interview Monday in El Periodico de Catalunya newspaper that he has never seen such behavior in football before.
''The bad example is being shown to millions of kids in the world and Madrid isn't doing a thing about it. Mourinho might be a good person in private and a good coach but what he shows the world is something else altogether,'' Cruyff was quoted as saying.
Tension between the Spanish rivals is high following six meetings since April, with many ugly scenes accompanying much of the quality play. While Madrid won the Copa del Rey, Barcelona won the league and Champions League and upped the pressure on Madrid and Mourinho to match their rival.
Emotions have often boiled over in these matchups, especially since Mourinho, a former assistant coach at Barcelona, joined Madrid.
''The problem is very serious. Madrid has a very big responsibility to the world and there are things that should not be allowed,'' Cruyff said. ''Madrid has the bad luck of playing against Barcelona at this time. The problem is his obsession with Barcelona has gone beyond the limits.''
The Dutchman also criticized Sandro Rosell, saying the Barcelona president backed Mourinho over current coach Pep Guardiola three years ago when the decision to replace Frank Rijkaard was being taken.
Guardiola has guided Barcelona to 12 trophies since but is in the final year of his deal and has not revealed whether he will stay on despite becoming the club's most successful coach in just over three seasons.
Cruyff was critical of Rosell's decision to allow advertising on the Barcelona shirt for the first time in history after the new president agreed a five-year deal with the Qatar Foundation that could reach ?170 million. During Joan Laporta's spell as president, Barcelona paid UNICEF to use its branding on the navy and crimson shirt.
''The club is obsessed with not only winning titles but making a lot of money. For me, it should be the reverse,'' said Cruyff, who has renounced his honorary club president title since Rosell took over. ''Over the last year the desire to seek out money has taken on too much importance.''
