Busquets race row rumbles on

Barcelona have done a lot of good things this season, there's absolutely no doubting that, but they have also done a few things that have threatened to bring shame and disrepute into the beautiful game, which they nine times out of ten manage to play in a more beautiful style than any other team on the planet.

Perhaps the most damaging example of this is the alleged racism from Sergio Busquets, with the Barcelona player apparently caught on camera calling Real Madrid's full-back Marcelo a monkey during an extremely ill-tempered Champions League tie between the two at the Bernabeu. UEFA has launched a disciplinary case against the player, which will be heard this weekend, and a decision is likely to be made on Monday, but regardless of the punishment that is handed to the player and to the club, it has surely taken the gloss off their La Liga title win earlier this week.



For non-Barcelona fans, the hope now remains that UEFA take firm enough action over this issue that a signal is sent once and for all to all involved in the sport that racism will not be tolerated at any level.

The fact remains that racism wouldn't be tolerated in any other workplace or in any other profession, so why should it be a forgivable offence when it happens on the pitch?