Did anyone see Barsa's loss though? Would've been a draw if not for an offsides call that was pure bullshit.

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwgNaTSv0Rs&feature=related]YouTube - Gabriel Milito Wrongly Disallowed Offside Goal? *LIGA BBVA*[/ame]

Wow, something went wrong for Barcelona. What a shame.

Sergio Busquets (left) is accused of racially abusing Marcelo (right)

 

Racism row overshadows Barcelona-Real Madrid return

 

A racism row has erupted ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Real published a video on their website showing Barca's Sergio Busquets allegedly calling full-back Marcelo "mono" (monkey) during the first leg.

 

Real assistant coach Aitor Karanka then referred to the "racist insults" in his press briefing ahead of Tuesday's game. But Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola countered: "My players are an example of professionalism and honesty."

 

The dispute has further inflamed tensions between the bitter Spanish rivals after a fiery first leg in Madrid, which Barcelona won 2-0.

 

Barca reserve goalkeeper Jose Pinto, Real midfielder Pepe and coach Jose Mourinho were all sent off, with the Portuguese claiming afterwards that the Catalan side receive preferential treatment from referees. Both sides submitted complaints to Uefa about the other's behaviour, but they were rejected on Monday. Meanwhile, the European governing body is investigating its own charges against the clubs.

 

With Mourinho choosing not to speak to the media ahead of the second leg at the Nou Camp, it was left to Karanka to bemoan Uefa's decision not to act on Real's claims of gamesmanship by Barcelona's players.

 

He said: "The match has been overshadowed by Uefa's resolution - it's on another plane now. We have been punished [with the suspensions for Pepe, Sergio Ramos and Mourinho], but there are [barcelona] players who didn't respect the principles of fair play or who made racist insults, covering their mouths, who will be on the pitch. We say over and over there are double standards."

 

Rejecting the accusations, Guardiola insisted the Catalan club taught their players good values through the youth academy at La Masia. "Real might think we are unsporting but I think exactly the opposite," he said. "Fourteen of 20 players in the squad have grown up in this house and they all respect the values of the house.

 

"Mourinho was at Barcelona for five years and he knows our values: to win, fight and earn respect by respecting your rival."

 

Guardiola added: "Tomorrow it all finishes. We are playing for a place in the final, not to beat Real Madrid."

 

Barca midfielder Xavi also talked about the negative impact of last Wednesday's game. "From my point of view everything that has been happening is sad," said the Barca playmaker. "It would be nice to talk about football instead and not these ridiculous issues. We will try not to let any of this tension affect us, which is negative for football and sport in general. It's impossible but we will try."

 

Mourinho is banned from the touchline as his side face the exacting ask of overhauling a 2-0 first-leg deficit at the home of the Catalan giants.

 

Belgian referee Frank de Bleeckere will take charge of the potentially volatile game, with Uefa sending former official Pierluigi Collina to the Nou Camp, where he refereed the 1999 Champions League final, to monitor his performance.

 

The winner is likely to face Manchester United in the final at Wembley on 28 May. United play Germany's Schalke on Wednesday at Old Trafford with a 2-0 cushion from the first leg.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13265403.stm

^that news has been going around for days especially on Tumblr. One of the reasons why i didn't watch last weekend's game was i was just really disgusted with how some Barca players, most especially Busquets, acted during the first leg that I didn't want to see their faces (:lol:). :| I mean, Barca have this 'call racism offside' thing, and the club not recognizing that it actually happened... I dont know. I hate Busquets now, not just because of the racism thing but also because he's such a diver.

 

here's the video:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFxudyTlnhE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFxudyTlnhE[/ame]

Doesn't look like he's saying mono to me.

Not saying he isn't, just offering my opinion.

Oh well. Some say he was, others say he wasn't. :shrug: i think he was. Anyways, I'm just glad it is gonna be over tonight. Everything is just too much.

much better game tonight, the gulf between the teams is evident early on. Real won't be able to cope with Messi's pace for 90 minutes surely

Barca through.

 

Great 90 minutes of football. Much better than the last match. Can't wait for Wembley.

What a shame:(, come on Utd heres hoping you win the final.

“After the game, instead of hoisting up The Golden Pep or any of the semifinal’s goal scorers, the Barca players lifted Abidal and tossed him around. Well, most of them did. Messi couldn’t reach.”

source.

 

:lol: