• Abdullah al-Thani’s tweet also accused Barcelona of telling lies • Club say comments ‘violate the principles of fair play, ethics and legality’

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Barcelona have said they will report Málaga’s president, Abdullah al-Thani, to the national sports council, Spanish football federation and La Liga for comments made about them on social media.

The row erupted after a Barcelona fan sent a message to Thani on Twitter asking if Málaga could do them a favour in the title race and beat Real Madrid when the sides meet on the final day of the season.

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Thani replied, in Arabic: “With the help of Allah we will beat them on the pitch, but the scum of Catalonia will not smell the championship after telling lies about coach Míchel.”

Míchel, the Málaga coach, and his Barcelona opposite number, Luis Enrique, have traded barbs this week after Míchel gave an interview on Tuesday in which he suggested he wanted Madrid to win the title.

In an interview with Onda Cero, Míchel was reminded of the former Tenerife coach Jorge Valdano, a former Real Madrid player whose side delivered victories over his old club that helped Barcelona win the title in both 1992 and 1993. Míchel, who spent 20 years with Madrid as a youth and senior player, responded: “The difference between Valdano and me is that I’m much more of a Madridista.”

Luis Enrique responded after his side’s 7-1 demolition of Osasuna on Wednesday night. Asked if he could rely on Málaga, he said: “If my grandmother had wheels, she would be a bicycle.”

Thani’s intervention has escalated matters, with a Barça statement on Thursday saying his tweet would be reported to the national sporting and football authorities.

“FC Barcelona expresses its rejection and indignation at the contents of a tweet published by the president of Málaga CF, Abdullah al-Thani, with comments which violate the principles of fair play, ethics and legality that should govern sports competition,” a club statement read.

“For this reason, the club will report this case to the anti-violence committee of the national sports council, and will refer the matter to the competition committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation and the La Liga integrity department.”

The Spanish media later reported a claim from Thani that he was referring to the Catalan media rather than to Barcelona. A statement in Arabic on his Twitter account was reported by AS as saying: “These words were directed towards the Catalan press, who said that Michel would throw the game. It is unacceptable, we don’t throw games. They should plead forgiveness for the things they have said about him.”

Barça moved level on points with Madrid by beating them in el clásico last Sunday and, after both sides won handsomely on Wednesday, are top on the basis of a superior head-to-head record.

However, Madrid have a game in hand so Barcelona need them to drop points in their final five matches to have a chance of retaining the title.