Barca midfielder Busquets cleared for final

MADRID - Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has been cleared to play in the Champions League final after UEFA dismissed Real Madrid's claim he racially insulted fullback Marcelo in their heated semifinal first leg.

UEFA said in a statement on Monday the chairman of its Control and Disciplinary Body had ruled there was a "lack of strong and convincing evidence" that Busquets had twice callled Brazilian Marcelo a monkey, or "mono", in Spanish during last month's semifinal first leg.

In a separate ruling, UEFA dismissed Real's appeal against an earlier decision to reject the club's complaint about what it said was unsporting behavior by a number of Barcelona players designed to influence the referee.