Lots of Money - No Class: Part 2

I won't go as far as to say that I enjoyed last nights Champions League semi-final second leg between Chelsea and FC Barcelona but, as a Barca fan, I certainly enjoyed the result.

Yeah, the referee was poor – as the referee was poor in the first leg – but comments that the game was 'fixed' are a nonsense and embarrassing. As poor as the referee was he was consistent - Barcelona's Eric Abidal got sent off because Anelka fell over his own feet and as for the 3 or 4 penalty shouts by Chelsea I could put up a counter argument why they weren’t penalties:

• Alves on Malouda: I could argue that the offence started outside the area
• Abidal (I think) on Drogba: Dogba clearly dived
• Pique ‘handball’: no, ball-to-hand
• Eto’o ‘handball’: actually hit him in the underarm/armpit area

Bottom line: I think they all come under the ‘I’ve seen them given’ category which if we’re honest is actually like saying ‘it wasn’t a penalty but I can see why the ref thought it was’.

‘Did you see that? It was a *$%*ing disgrace’ Drogba said words pretty close to that effect to the camera as the players left the field. Yes, I saw it: I saw him dive on numerous occasions (as is his way), I saw him fain a head injury to slow/stop the game (as is his way) and I saw him verbally abuse the referee as he left the field. I saw Michael Ballack – who shouldn’t have been playing as he should have been sent off in the first leg - ignoring a lose ball and a chance to win the game in favour of chasing, verbally and physically abusing the referee as play continued as he believed there was a penalty. So I would say to Drogba in answer to his question ‘yes I saw it and yes: your actions (and those of Ballack) were indeed a disgrace’. Chelsea Football Club should be punished for failing to control their employees. I won't be surprised if they are not - but I won't assume it's part of a conspiracy

Speaking of things being a 'disappointing', onto the post match analysis from the pundits: one of the studio guests – a man who is probably too close to the game and at least some of the players to give any objective analysis - complained, amongst other things, that ‘they’ve only had one shot all night’ – I agree, as Chelsea only had one shot in the first leg, the difference being Barca made theirs count while Chelsea (largely Drogba) failed. What he (the pundit) neglected to discuss was that even when they had a numerical player advantage Chelsea failed to control the game and when, on a number of occasions, Chelsea had 3 on 2 attacking opportunities they wasted them by either poor passing or poor finishing (Drogba again).

Then the ‘it’s a fix’ comments began: first from Hiddinck, shamefully encouraged by the ‘pitchside reporter's’ loaded questions, then from one of the studio guests who didn’t have the courage of his beliefs so shrouded his remarks as he stated ‘there will be people at UEFA who will be glad it’s not an all-English final’ – I agree, as there will also be a lot of ordinary football lovers in England and throughout who will be glad that the showpiece European game will be contested by the two best teams in Europe.

'Xenophobia: having abnormal fear or hatred of the strange or foreign'