RACISM is an abhorrent stain on society that should have no place in a civilised world. By contrast, there’s no harm in a good old-fashioned bit of British xenophobia, whether it be humourless lederhosen-wearing Germans, riverdancing Irish drunkards or racist Spaniards.
Which – ta-dah! – brings us nicely onto the subject of Barcelona star Sergio Busquets, who this week has been given the go ahead to play in the Champions League final after being cleared of making racist remarks in the semi-final against Real Madrid.
FIFA dismissed the charge “due to a lack of strong and convincing evidence”. This presumably means that shouting the word “monkey, monkey” to a black player while trying to cover your mouth so cameras don’t catch you, doesn’t count as being racist in FIFA’s big book of political correctness.
While this may be good news for Lee Bowyer, who can now finally get that Swastika tattooed onto his forehead, it’s not exactly a great advert for the game in the lead up to the biggest showpiece in club football, especially as it’s just the latest in a long line of Spanish racial abuse problems which have earned anything from a wrist-slap to a back-slap from FIFA as punishment. Luckily, Barca boss Pep Guardiola has moved quickly to clear up the situation. “I won’t tell you what [Busquets] told me,” he said. That’s that sorted then.
Anyway, enough of our whinging – here’s a list of the best Champions League finals of all time. And before the Celtic fans start complaining, that’s Champions League NOT European Cup.
Barcelona 2-1 Arsenal
2006: Stade de France
For once a Barca v Arsenal game that lived up to its billing. It was always going to be an exciting one the moment Jens Lehmann (pictured) was sent off after 18 minutes for a tackle on Samuel Eto’o. Amazingly, Sol Campbell then put Arsenal in front and with 15 minutes to go it looked like they might hold on. They didn’t. Instead Eto’o equalised and Juliano Belletti scored the winner four minutes later. It’s been downhill ever since for Arsenal in the trophy-winning stakes.
Man Utd 2-1 Bayern Munich
1999: Nou Camp
Do we really need to remind you about this one? Probably not, but does anyone remember how Bayern had numerous gilt-edged chances to finish the game as they led 1-0 late on? Again, probably not. Instead, this game is only remembered for one memorable minute of injury time, as United not only equalised but also hit the winner courtesy of goals from substitutes Teddy Sheringham (pictured) and Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
Real Madrid 2-1 Leverkusen
2002: Hampden Park
Real’s last European title win and their only one from the not-such-a-great-idea Galacticos era. A decent enough game but the reason for it’s elevation onto this list is the best Champions League goal of all time. With the score at 1-1, Roberto Carlos broke down the left and looped a poor cross to the edge of the box. Zinedine Zidane (pictured) duly spanked it first time into the top left corner to win it for Madrid.
Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (Liverpool win on pens)
2005: Atatürk Olympic Stadium (Istanbul)
With Liverpool trailing 3-0 at half-time, BBM gave up watching. When we switched the telly back on half an hour later it inspired a “whaaaaa?!” moment as we rubbed our eyes in disbelief. Goals within the first 15 minutes of the second half from Steeeeevie Gerrard (pictured), Vladimír Šmicer, and Xabi Alonso put Liverpool back on level pegging and they went on to win on penalties. Liverpool fans haven’t shut up about it since.
AC Milan 4-0 Barcelona
1994: Olympic Stadium (Athens)
One of the biggest upsets in Champions League final history. Barca were heavy favourites having just won the La Liga title while Milan’s preparations were in chaos with Marco van Basten, Gianluigi Lentini (the then world’s most expensive footballer), Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta, Florin R?ducioiu, Jean-Pierre Papin and Brian Laudrup all missing for various reasons. Milan duly smashed Barca in what many pundits still claim is the greatest 90-minute performance of all time in a Champions League final.
