Valdano critical of UEFA charges

Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano has accused UEFA of singling out the Spanish giants after European football's governing body launched an investigation into Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso's red cards in Tuesday's Champions League match with Ajax.

Ramos and Alonso are alleged to have followed team orders and deliberately picked up second yellow cards for time-wasting towards the end of the 4-0 win in Amsterdam. Their dismissals mean they would have missed the final game in the group from which Jose Mourinho's men have already qualified instead of running the risk of being suspended for the knockout stages.

But Valdano has questioned whether UEFA themselves are guilty of unfair play having seen similar cases dealt with differently and he told Cadena Ser radio station: "I can't go into details but there have been many players who have done something similar and were not punished."

Ramos and Alonso, together with goalkeepers Jerzy Dudek and Iker Casillas, are also under investigation for alleged improper conduct.

Valdano added: "(Lyon midfielder) Juninho was penalised financially. (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic and (Walter) Samuel, when they were at Inter, did something similar. There is no way to rely on the regulations.

"What happens at Real Madrid also happens at other clubs but they (UEFA) are not as severe."

Madrid face their biggest game of the season so far on Monday when they go to arch-rivals, and only serious contenders for the title, Barcelona.

But Valdano insists he is confident in the team ahead of the trip to the Nou Camp.

He added: "This team does not make me nervous. We are going to give everything we have.

"I like Barca's style of play, it's perhaps the best in the world alongside that of Madrid."