Valdano Loses Cool With Referee

Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano confronted referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez during the half-time interval of last night's Copa del Rey clash with Sevilla.

The Argentine was unhappy with the decision to send Zinedine Zidane off for an alleged elbow on Pablo Alfaro.

"I wasn't happy," he was quoted as saying in Marca. "I hadn't gone down to the changing rooms to talk to him, but I met him in the passageway and said things that I don't normally say."

"I have never been involved in incidents like this up until now. I regret it and it would have been better if I had not said anything to anybody."

He added: "I saw the incident clearly and for me Zidane has paid very dearly for a reflex action. It was an unjust card and we will be trying to make sure he can play on Sunday (against Valencia)."

The referee has included Valdano's comments in his match report, and the Spanish Football Federation will now decide if any further action is needed.