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Barca's Sergio Busquets may face ban for racism

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-13 10:39

Barcelona's Sergio Busquets (R) and Real Madrid's Kaka run towards the ball during their Champions League semi-final second leg soccer match at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona, May 3, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

NYON, Switzerland - UEFA charged Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets on Thursday with racially insulting Real Madrid defender Marcelo during the Champions League semifinals.

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Busquets faces being banned for the May 28 final against Manchester United if the charge is proven.

UEFA said its disciplinary panel will hear the case on Sunday, and Barcelona will be told the verdict the next day.

Busquets is alleged to have violated UEFA's discrimination rules "by directing racist abuse toward" Marcelo, who is black.

The rulebook states that "anyone who insults the human dignity of a person or group of persons, by whatever means, including on grounds of color" shall be banned for five matches.

Marcelo alleges that Busquest called him "monkey" during an ill-tempered first-leg match on April 27 in Madrid.

UEFA said it took statements from Marcelo and Madrid and used video evidence of an incident when the two players clashed.

European football's governing body had initially dismissed the racial abuse claim, along with Madrid's request that Barcelona's Dani Alves, Pedro Rodriguez and Busquets be sanctioned for feigning injuries.

Madrid contested those rulings and a UEFA appeals body will hear the case next Monday.

Barcelona won 2-0 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and drew the return home leg 1-1 to advance to the final at Wembley Stadium.