Barcelona's Sergio Busquets has been accused of racism by Real Madrid.
The bitter off-field feud that has accompanied the Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Real Madrid
turned into a racism storm when José Mourinho's assistant coach, Aitor
Karanka, hit out at Uefa for overlooking the abuse allegedly directed at
the Real Madrid full-back Marcelo by Sergio Busquets. Karanka claimed
that tomorrow's semi-final second leg was of only "secondary importance"
in the face of Uefa's failure to act to defend fair play and the
abandonment of ethics in the sport.
"There will be a player on the pitch who racially abused another player," the Madrid assistant coach said, "while others who have done nothing wrong won't be there."
Karanka's comments come in the light of a video released by Real Madrid on Monday that they claim shows Busquets calling the Madrid full-back Marcelo a "monkey". They also came hours after Uefa announced that it had rejected the complaint made by Real Madrid against eight Barcelona players for "persistent and premeditated unsporting behaviour". Uefa likewise resolved not to act on the complaints made by Barcelona against Mourinho, saying that European football's governing body would be the "sole judge".
The Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola, insisted Busquets had merely made a "mistake" and that it would be up to Uefa to decide if he should be punished. "I know these players. They are an example of professionalism," said the Barcelona coach. "They love this sport. Some of them, during the game, can make a mistake but as players they are exemplary both for Spain and for Barcelona." Asked if he would punish Busquets he said: "We are not proud when they make mistakes but I know these players. If we do something wrong, then Uefa have to decide. It won't happen again."
Uefa's statement made no specific mention of the alleged racist abuse but Madrid's assistant coach brought the issue to the fore after Real's release of the footage. In a piece about tomorrow's referee, Frank de Bleeckere, on Madrid's website and the Spanish version of their TV channel, the voiceover expressed a desire that the official would not fall into Barcelona's trap and that there would be no "disrespect" from the players. The comment came over a shot of Busquets cupping his hand to hide his words and saying something to Marcelo. Real's subtitles showed "mono, mono" – "monkey, monkey".
Uefa did not respond to calls tonight but Karanka made his views clear in the pre-match press conference. "After today's resolution the game itself drops to a secondary issue," he said. "[Uefa is] an organisation which talks about principles like respect and fair play and yet nothing has happened.
"We have seen the images which have been round the world, including a player making racist insults and covering his mouth to try to make it so that you can't see it. But he will be on the pitch, along with others. Other players who have done nothing wrong won't be. That is the most important thing today. The football is not."
Karanka also defended Mourinho's outburst following the first leg, in which he accused Uefa of favouring Barcelona and a series of referees of giving them beneficial decisions. Karanka added that he did not understand why no action was taken against Barcelona players for something that does appear in the rules when there were fines handed out to Real Madrid players for deliberately seeking out cards against Ajax earlier in the competition – which does not appear in the rules.
"A few months ago we were sanctioned for something that is not in the Uefa rule book. Now they are not sanctioning things that are in the rule book," Karanka said. "It's not a case of feeling unprotected but once again there seems to be different measures [for different teams]. Our position is the one that we made clear in our complaint to Uefa. What Mourinho said [after the first leg] was what anyone who had been in the stadium or watching the game on television would have said. This isn't an accusation against Uefa. I'm saying what's in the regulations and what isn't. These are provable and objective things."
The Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernández had earlier rejected suggestions that Uefa should act against them, describing the complaints as "pathetic and lamentable". He added: "Barcelona have always respected opponents and shown exemplary behaviour. It is logical that Uefa should turn down the complaints. I think it's lamentable and pathetic, everything that is going on – all the complaints and denouncements. It is sad. I would rather just talk about the football."
"There will be a player on the pitch who racially abused another player," the Madrid assistant coach said, "while others who have done nothing wrong won't be there."
Karanka's comments come in the light of a video released by Real Madrid on Monday that they claim shows Busquets calling the Madrid full-back Marcelo a "monkey". They also came hours after Uefa announced that it had rejected the complaint made by Real Madrid against eight Barcelona players for "persistent and premeditated unsporting behaviour". Uefa likewise resolved not to act on the complaints made by Barcelona against Mourinho, saying that European football's governing body would be the "sole judge".
The Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola, insisted Busquets had merely made a "mistake" and that it would be up to Uefa to decide if he should be punished. "I know these players. They are an example of professionalism," said the Barcelona coach. "They love this sport. Some of them, during the game, can make a mistake but as players they are exemplary both for Spain and for Barcelona." Asked if he would punish Busquets he said: "We are not proud when they make mistakes but I know these players. If we do something wrong, then Uefa have to decide. It won't happen again."
Uefa's statement made no specific mention of the alleged racist abuse but Madrid's assistant coach brought the issue to the fore after Real's release of the footage. In a piece about tomorrow's referee, Frank de Bleeckere, on Madrid's website and the Spanish version of their TV channel, the voiceover expressed a desire that the official would not fall into Barcelona's trap and that there would be no "disrespect" from the players. The comment came over a shot of Busquets cupping his hand to hide his words and saying something to Marcelo. Real's subtitles showed "mono, mono" – "monkey, monkey".
Uefa did not respond to calls tonight but Karanka made his views clear in the pre-match press conference. "After today's resolution the game itself drops to a secondary issue," he said. "[Uefa is] an organisation which talks about principles like respect and fair play and yet nothing has happened.
"We have seen the images which have been round the world, including a player making racist insults and covering his mouth to try to make it so that you can't see it. But he will be on the pitch, along with others. Other players who have done nothing wrong won't be. That is the most important thing today. The football is not."
Karanka also defended Mourinho's outburst following the first leg, in which he accused Uefa of favouring Barcelona and a series of referees of giving them beneficial decisions. Karanka added that he did not understand why no action was taken against Barcelona players for something that does appear in the rules when there were fines handed out to Real Madrid players for deliberately seeking out cards against Ajax earlier in the competition – which does not appear in the rules.
"A few months ago we were sanctioned for something that is not in the Uefa rule book. Now they are not sanctioning things that are in the rule book," Karanka said. "It's not a case of feeling unprotected but once again there seems to be different measures [for different teams]. Our position is the one that we made clear in our complaint to Uefa. What Mourinho said [after the first leg] was what anyone who had been in the stadium or watching the game on television would have said. This isn't an accusation against Uefa. I'm saying what's in the regulations and what isn't. These are provable and objective things."
The Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernández had earlier rejected suggestions that Uefa should act against them, describing the complaints as "pathetic and lamentable". He added: "Barcelona have always respected opponents and shown exemplary behaviour. It is logical that Uefa should turn down the complaints. I think it's lamentable and pathetic, everything that is going on – all the complaints and denouncements. It is sad. I would rather just talk about the football."